File #650: "DV-433.pdf"

W aban aki
A llia n ce
t ol the Penobscot Nation and Diocesan Human Relations Services, Inc.

1982

Augusta bill killed

Phillips saves tribes'
free hunting, trapping
AUGUSTA — Successful lobbying by compromise, not to charge non-Indians
a Penobscot representative to the state any additional fees [above the required
legislature caused a bill that would have state license] for hunting on Indian lands
ended free Indian hunting to be withdrawn — including 140,000 acres of newlyacquired territory.
before it got to the floor.
Rep. Bonnie Post, an Owls Head Demo
Reuben E. Phillips, non-voting tribal
representative to state government, said crat who sponsored the bill to repeal free
that if the bill had been introduced on the licenses for Indians, was reportedly furious
floor, to the Legislature, “ it would have that the committee reversed itself and
withdrew her proposal. Ironically, Post
been passed so fast it would have made
was on a land claims legislative committee
your head spin.”
For years, Maine Indians have enjoyed that was closely involved with the settle
ment. Phillips said the Indians “ clearly
free hunting, trapping and fishing privi
understood” during negotiations, that
leges, but following the recent S85 million
federal settlement awarded the Penobscots they would keep free hunting, trapping and
and Passamaquoddys, some legislators fishing privileges.
However, Phillips explained that he be
sought to stop the practice. Phillips called
lieves “ constituents have been rattling
it a land claims “ backlash.”
the cages of the legislators,” and that
Another idea, also dropped, was to have
“ reciprocity,” whereby if non-Indians had there will be attacks on programs and
to buy permits to hunt on tribal lands, policies that benefit Indians. Phillips’
then Indians would have to pay the . > « mcre*c with_tbe committee will benefit
P:\ssamaquoadys, eve-- uro>.
amount for a permit to hunt on non(Continued on page 5)
Indian territory.
Phillips said he had to work fast with the
Legislature’
s Fisheries and Wildlife
Committee to overturn the bill, on which
the committee had already voted an oughtto-pass. “ I’ very satisfied I got the bill
m
killed,” Phillips told Wabanaki Alliance.
“ It was a victory, but we had to give som e
There is clearlv no generation gap here, between the Rev. John CmeHo, P ^*0'° f S ' thing up,” he said.
See page 4.
Ann’s Church at Indian Island, and Carissa Norwood, daughter of Edie and Vincent
Killing the bill had its price. Phillips
said the Penobscots have agreed, as a
Norwood of indian Island. Carissa just turned two years old.

Will tribe own
this paper?

All smiles

Indians fry German
booze treatment
INDIAN TOWNSHIP — Three members
of this Passamaquoddy community, plus a
Penobscot from Indian Island, have volun
teered to join a “ pilot project” that in
volves six months of intensive alcoholism
treatment at a W est German clinic. They
will fly to Germany later this month.
Kevin, Howard and Charles Stevens of
Indian Township, and Elwin [Al] Sapiel of
Indian Island, have all acknowledged a
drinking problem, and hope to not only

conquer their own alcoholism, but intend to
return and counsel others addicted to
booze. Sapiel said for him, it’s a “ once in a
lifetime opportunity . . . I had 15 minutes
to decide, ana I said I’d go.”
The man behind these unusual develop
ments is Wolfgang Ritter, 62, a German
citizen and former POW during World
War II, at a camp located on the Indian
Township reservation. Ritter discovered
(Continued on page 9)

Per capita goes smoothly
INDIAN ISLAND — Although not fully
understood by some tribal members,
the distribution of quarterly per capita
payments — earned from the land claims
trust fund — is apparently going smoothly
here.
“ Everything is going real well,” com
mented Deanna Labossiere, who is in
charge of the operation at the office of
tribal Gov. Timothy Love. The Penobscots
have the use of half o f a $27 million trust
fund; the Passamaquoddys earn proceeds
from the other half. All of the funds are

invested, and are supervised by the U.S.
Interior Department. The senior citizens of
each tribe have a set-aside of SI million,
benefits o f which go directly to the elderly.
There are about 1,500 Penobscots
eligible for payments, and 2,000 Passa
maquoddys. The Penobscots voted to
return about 30 percent of their earnings
for tribal use (such as reinvestment and
funding the fire department), but the
Passamaquoddys voted to distribute 100
percent of the interest earned oh trust
funds.
(Continued on page 7)

Frauds [Bobcat] Sapiel, left, a Penobscot, presents W olfgang Ritter with ceremonial
carved war club.

Page 2

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

Off-reservation impact
It’ a touchy topic: the old-timers on the reservation versus the
s
newcomers — those who, in greater and greater numbers — are
returning to the Island, or the Point, or the Township,
Things didn’ change for so many decades and then, pow, some
t
drastic changes occurred, many due to the decade of Maine Indian
land claims work, and the resulting settlement.
Not that tension between reservation and off-reservation Indians
is anything new. It's been going on for generations. Some say the
smart ones got out, went away and made money. Others say the
true Indians didn’ abandon their homeland, they stayed and
t
worked very hard for their people. Those that moved away didn’
t
give a damn about their own people.
These are extremes, although there is probably some truth in
all of the statements. What is certainly true is that people —
Penobscot and Passamaquoddy people — are moving home to
the reservation, even if it’ a home they never knew.
s
Besides the strain on services such as roads, sewer, school and
so forth, there is the psychological strain on the existing com
munity.
It’ not uncommon to hear a longtime resident of the Island say
s
they don’ know people anymore, as strangers drive by, to the new
t
housing. Used to be you knew everybody. If a stranger appeared
on the
word gin around pretty fast on who it was.
Of course, the biggest influx of strangers occurs every Sunday
night, for the state’ biggest bingo game. But those folks drive on,
s
and drive off. They are not tribal members.
The newcomers who come to live on the reservation are indeed
tribal members, although for some it’ a recen t1discovery. ’’
s
‘
Some are, you might say, “ bom again Indians.” But before
anybody gets hot under the collar, let’ call for some understand
s
ing. These newcomers all have some sort of roots on the reserva
tion, else they w ouldn’ be allowed to return. One must, the law
t
says, be at least quarter-blood Penobscot.
The influx of newcomers is a price of progress, of improvements
to the community such as a health clinic and the new housing,
and it is the price of resolving the land claims case for $81 million.
There is no reason why newcomers shouldn’ find a warm
t
welcome, unless they themselves reject it, or reject the com
m unity’ already established standards of conduct.
s
But what of planning? What does the future hold for a com
munity that is rocked by change, by growth and many conflicts?
Community leaders would be wise to sit down and carefully
plan for the future. Growth should be controlled. There may be an
optimum population on Indian Island, for example.
People still wave to one another [and to strangers] on the reser
vations in Maine. Goodwill seems to prevail, but there are mutterings, grumblings. If people stop waving, watch out.

Q u o t a b le
“Such action would carry a simple but shameful message: when
the law gives Indians a substantial claim to land taken by white men
which the regular courts of justice may sustain, the white men will
change the rules rather than permit a decision according to existing
law. A broader message would be inferred: Indians cannot obtain
justice even in the white man’ courts.”
s
— Prof, Archibald Cox of Harvard taw School, commenting on
proposed bill to limit eastern tribes’ land claims to money damages
only.

'Sorry, boss, I'm g o n n a b e Safe foday'

Guest column

Love chides Bangor paper
by Timothy R. Love
Penobscot Tribal Governor
For the second time in four months the
Bangor Daily News has made the big push
to revoke a negotiated term of the Land
aims Settlement Act — in this instance,
state hunting, trapping, and fishing li
censes provided eligible Indian people
within the State o f Maine.
To refresh your memory . . . we did pay.
There are numerous terms in which the
tribes conceded to the State o f Maine for a
few concessions in return. And even before
the ink had a chance to dry on the docu
ment the News and its “ clones” came
wagging their forked tongues to attempt a
rewrite o f the good faith terms that were
negotiated.
Let me clarify a few points:
(1) Contrary to the poor memory of some
state officials and the News, it is in black
and white that any legislation altering the
terms o f the negotiated settlement must be
reviewed by the Tribal State Commission
for a recommendation to the legislature.
This is basic to the future relationship of
the tribes and the State o f Maine.
(2) Concessions made by the state and
agreed to by the tribes, attorney general,
governor’ office and Legislature included:
s

Wabanaki Alliance

(a) continued scholarship assistance to
tribes. Status? Governor’ office did not
s
make a request to the legislature — good
bye?
(b) continued funding for operations of
the Tribal Reservation Housing Authori
ties. Status? Governor’ office submitted
s
a request for funding with som e language
in fine print which said something like,
“ Here is my request, but you don’ have to
t
fund it if you don’ want to.” State welches
t
. . . now in federal court.
(c) Continued hunting, trapping, fishing
licenses for resident Indian people of
Maine. Status? Out o f the dark came
slithering a bill to repeal the license, but
was caught in the “ nick o f time” and was
referred to the Tribal State Commission
where it should have gone in the first
place.
(d) Not all is lost though because the
Mortgage Insurance Program which
guarantees standard housing loans for
Indian residents on the reservation is
about to be cranked up again after a threeyear lull. Fortunately, this does not require
an appropriation.
The Penobscot Nation has, to date, kept
its end of the bargain. The question is,
when is the state goin g to do so?

Vol. 6, No. 4

April 1982

Published monthly by Wabanaki Alliance, through a sustaining grant from the
Penobscot Nation, under contract with Diocesan Human Relations Services, Inc.
Offices at 95 Main Street, Orono, Maine 04473. Telephone [207] 866-4903. Typeset
by the Penobscot Times Company. Printed by the Ellsworth American.

Reporters
Diane Newell Wilson
Brenda Polchies

Board of Directors
Jean Chavaree, Penobscot Nation, [chairman]
Donna Loring, Penobscot Nation
Jeannette LaPlante, Central Maine Indian Assoc.

Phone827-6219
Phone532-9442

Indian Island
Old Tow s
Old Town

A non-profit corporation. Contributions are deductible for income tax puip&sesf.
Rates: $5 per year [12 issues]; § 6 Canada and overseas; S10 for institutions [schools,
government, business, etc.]

Page 3

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

Misleading
Parker, Ariz.
To the editor:
W e are writing in regard to an article in
your newspaper’ February edition en
s
titled “Indian Paper Bites the Dust.” The
article is most misleading and inaccurate.
The Manataba M essenger did not
“cease regular publication.” It has simply
changed its format from a weekly fullsized edition to a regularly scheduled
tabloid newspaper. The staff was not
“fired” but some were laid-off due to a
reduced need in personnel.
The article further states that “Costs
were prohibitive, and the M essenger’
s
quality deteriorated after LaCourse left
the paper, and Joan Travis took over as
editor.” We take great exception to your
inference that Joan Travis is responsible
for spiraling costs and has caused a de
terioration in the quality of the news
paper. You are entitled to your opinion;
however, the fact is that the circulation of
the Messenger continued to grow under
the leadership of Joan and many letters
commending her for the quality of the
newspaper have been received. Further
more, not only newspapers but many
other businesses are having a difficult
time financially in these days of growing
inflation. However, Joan Travis is not the
cause.
Travis Nopah
Juanita Phelps

Will answer all
Norway
To the editor:
My name is Gloria Martens and I am
interested in writing to anyone from Old
Town. My great-grandfather, Sockalexis
Newell, was a chief of the Penobscots and
lived in Old Town. Anyone who might
have known him, please write. Anyone
else who would like a pal, please write. I
am 29, a divorced mother with four
children. Will answer all.
Gloria Martens
155 Main St.
Norway, Maine 04268

Irresponsible
Parker, Ariz.
To the editor:
I received the February issue of the
“Wabanaki Alliance” and was quite sur
prised to note that under the headline —
“Indian paper bites the dust” — that you
were referring to the “Manataba M es
senger."
I find the headline very misleading and
irresp on sible journalism . Th e “M es
senger” has not bit the dust, but is very
much alive and kicking. The major change
was the format, from a weekly full-sized
newspaper to a monthly tabloid size. The
last weekly issue was Jan. 1 and the
monthly will be out every third week of
the month.
Another point to clear up was the
“M essenger” staff was never FIRED —
LAID OFF — if you will. There is quite a
bit of difference between those terms,
‘
laid off and ‘
fired.’
It is true I will remain on staff as well as
graphic designer, Travis Nopah. I find it
quite interesting that you feel the quality
of the “M essenger" deteriorated after
founding editor, Richard LaCourse left.
We received reports quite to the contrary.
Everyone is entitled to his opinions.
Joan M. Travis
Editor

Rising Sun
To the editor:
I am writing this letter of request to be
placed on your mailing list. I am the editor
of our newsletter, Rising Sun, for United
American Indians of Delaware Valley,
Inc., located in Philadelphia, Pennsyl
vania. We like to include news about other
Indian groups or organizations. I have
enclosed a copy of our newsletter for your
enjoyment.
We thank you for your consideration in
this matter.
Anthony W. Edwards

Unhappy people
Indian Island
To the editor:
The Concerned Citizens Committee
was rooted from the Community Task
force. As they met, they learned there
were a lot o f unhappy people that had
grievances and questions, dealing with
our tribal matters. They, the Concerned
Citizens Committee, had no answers, so
they were determined to learn just
about everything concerning Penobscot
tribal business — through the tribal,
state and federal laws, guidelines and
procedures, so they could provide the
best possible answers and avenues to
the people concerned.
This became our first priority, as
this was what the people were con
cerned with, at this time. Some griev
ances were left in limbo, through the
system, and they had no other recourse
but to seek outside assistance.
These meetings are open to all, on
and off the reservation, to Penobscots
and families. The meetings are pub
lished, time and place, in the flyer.
Watch for the next meeting and
come. All are welcome.
Alice Fowler, Chairman
Irene Pardilla, Vice Chairman

Does anyone know?
LaHabra, Ca.
To the editor:
I’ doing the genealogy of my hus
m
band’ family, and find that his real
s
mother died when he was four years old,
and he was put up for adoption.
We heard from a real uncle (now
deceased) that his mother was a pretty,
Indian girl from Old Town, Me. We know
she was born Dec. 1,1894 in Londonderry,
Nova Scotia.
Does the name, Virginia Arlene Rushton mean anything to any of your sub
scribers? I will gladly return the postage
to anyone who can help me.
Catherine Truelsen
641 W oodcrest Ave.
LaHabra, Ca. 90631

Only news pa per
Fort Kent
To the editor:
First, I would like to thank Sarah Lund of
Fort Kent for introducing me to Wabanaki
Alliance. This is the first and only news
paper that I subscribe to.
I am of Maliseet descent — my family
being from the Sept-Iles, Maine area
(head waters of the St. John River north
western part o f the state).
Would it be possible for the paper to
include something on Indian family trees?
Keep up the good work, and good luck.
E. D. Nicolas

CAPABLE COLLECTORS — A new enterprise is underway on Indian Island, operated
by David Hamilton, right, and John Love. Hamilton signed a year-long S5,200 contract
with the Penobscot Nation to collect trash from homes on the reservation. He said he
invested $2,500 in his 1971 Chevy track; he has also bought the former Love’ Amoco
s
garage. Hamilton and Love will perform auto repairs and reconditioning by request.

Pearson to challenge Sewall for Senate
beginning with his election to the Old
OLD TOWN — Rep. Michael Pearson
has announced he will seek election to Town city council in 1969. He held that
seat for six years, serving as chairman of
State Senate District 27, which runs from
the Island Falls-Sherman area of southern the council in 1972.
Pearson attended Higgins Classical
Aroostook County to include MattawamInstitute in Charleston, but graduated
keag, Lincoln, Howland, Glenburn, Cor
from both Old Town High School, and
inth, Old Town and Indian Island.
Pearson is a four-term member of the later, University of Maine at Orono,
where he received a BS in history and
Maine House of Representatives, is serv
ing his second term as chairman of the government.
legislature’ appropriations and financial
s
A teacher, Pearson has taught in How
affairs committee, which oversees the land, and at Brewer High School for the
state budget and controls all state past 14 years.
rearson win oppose
oen.
expenditures.
Pearson has spent 12 years in politics. Joseph Sewall, an Old Town Republican.

A great love
Indian Township
To the editor:
Enclosed is a check for a renewal for
two subscriptions: one for myself, and one
for Sister Jeanette in Portland.
I read her letter in the last issue of
Wabanaki Alliance and felt that this
would be a small token of my great love
and appreciation for all that she did for me
when I was her pupil at St. Anne’ School,
s
Peter Dana Point. Her caring and confi
dence in a shy young Indian girl with very
little self confidence paid off. I am now a
bilingual teacher at the Indian Township
School.
I hope to be reading your paper for a
very long time.
Lorraine Gabriel Ritter

An understanding
Dietzenbach, West Germany
To the editor:
Thank you for your regular mailing of
the excellent newspaper, Wabanaki Al
liance, and thank you again for supplying
us with all the issues from 1977 on. W e
had them all wrapped up into a book and
you, and probably nobody, can imagine
what a mass o f valued information about
native Americans we can gather.
We classified the stories and — believe
it or not — by studying these articles, we
get an understanding and feeling of
native Americans — especially the tribes
o f Maine. The Wabanaki Alliance is
worth to be read from the first to the last
line, thanks to your good journalism.
You inform about History, Politics, Leg
ends and even about gossips. We wish we
had a German newspaper covering all
items above for such small communities.
Gertrud and W olfgang Ritter

subscribe!
A gift
Bass Harbor
To the editor:
I am enclosing $5, wishing you to enter
a subscription to be sent to Ruth Chobit,
29 Haxon Street, Brockton, Mass. 02402.
She is my daughter.
Doris M. Johnson

They helped
Manchester, N.H.
To the editor:
On Dec. 1st, 1981, I was burned out
o f my home in Manchester. New
Hampshire. I lost everything, but
what I had on my back. These Indian
people came to me, and gave me a
place to stay and fed and clothed me,
until I was on my feet.
These Indian people are ChiricahuaApaches. Their names are Mr.and Mrs.
William Bolding. They live in Goffstown, New Hampshire. I thank them not
just for myself, but other Indians that
are in this area. These Indian people
are dedicated to other Indian people,
in time of need, no matter what it may
be.
I would like the Indian people and
whoever reads the newspaper to see
what Indian people do for one another.
Thank you for your time, and may God
go with you.
Clarence Mike Baer
Penobscot

Page 4

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

First Indian principal at
reservation school resigns

TED MITCHELL, counselor to Indian students at University of Maine at Orono,
admires UMO exhibit of posters by Passamaquoddy children, on the theme of wood
heat safety.

Ending Indian act bias termed
expensive for Canada
OTTAWA, Canada — Canadian tax
payers would be billed something like
$300-$500 million to eradicate discrimina
tion in the Indian Act, according to a front
page story in Indian News.
The recent report said a 13-page cabinet
document, kept secret for a considerable
time, discloses that reinstating Indian
women who have lost their status would
be very expensive. In Canada, under the
act, Indian women who marry non-Indians
lose their rights and status. They can no
longer live on the reservation, or receive
benefits as Indians, for themselves and
their children.
However, Indian men who marry nonIndians are not subject to the same
discrimination.
Proposed changes would stipulate that
children of “mixed” marriages would
retain Indian status. The effect would add
140 children the first year, 7,700 by the
tenth year, and 80,000 children after 40
years, authorities said.
An even m ore staggering proposal
would give Indian status to children of
women who have already lost status. A

problem may crop up if newly-enfran
chised Indian women and their families
choose — in large numbers — to live on
reservations. There simply will not be
enough space, the report stated.
The government document proposes:
• An Indian woman would not lose her
status or rights regardless of whom she
married.
• The non-Indian husband would not
become Indian but could live on the
reserve and have political rights, subject
to any residency requirements imposed by
the band.
• Should the Indian woman die, the nonIndian husband would retain his rights.
• Should a divorce occur, the non-In
dian husband would lose his rights.

ORONO — Want something worthwhile
to do? If you are age 19 or over, you can
b e a big brother or big sister to a needy'
child, Indian or non-Indian.
You won’ make money, but you may get
t
a lot of personal satisfaction out of helping
a youngster out. For further information,
call Eve Ott Or one of her staff, at the
Big Brother/Big Sister office, 95 Main st.,
Orono, Me. 04473. The phone number is
866-4903. Members o f all tribes are invited
to participate in the program.

VATICAN CITY —
Four Canadian
Indians met with Pope John Paul II recent
ly, to complain that a new Canadian
constitution will violate their treaty rights.
Indian Association o f Alberta President
Eugene Steinhauer was quoted in Native
People as saying the trip was a “ success.
W e spent about 20 minutes with the pope.
He said he understood the question and
would try his best to help.
“ W e’ asking him to try and tell the
re
British and Canadian governments that
what they are trying to do would violate
human rights.”
Steinhauer claims Canadian Prime
Minister Pierre Trudeau has ignored
Indian pleas for protection of lands and
rights, under the pending revised consti
tution.

wish them luck, and I hope they find a
person who fits in,” he added. He com
mented that he had hoped for a much
longer stay with the Passamaquoddys;
“it’ sad to leave it . . . I loved the
s
children.”
Vandall’ family is involved in educa
s
tion. His brother is a dean at a western
Indian college. A native of North Dakota,
he attended W olf Point School system, on
a Montana reservation. He earned his BS
and m aster’ degree in education from
s
Westfield State College, Massachusetts,
and has attended University of Hartford,
American Internationa] College, and Uni
versity of Maine at Orono.
For ten years, Vandall was principal of
Warsaw Junior High School in Pittsfield.
He has been principal of the elementary
school in Mattawamkeag, and pre-vocational teacher at Mattanawcook High
School in Lincoln, where he currently
makes his home.
Vandall said what brought him to New
England was marrying a Massachusetts
girl. He and his wife have two daughters.

BIA budget totals $943 million
WASHINGTON — The 1982 Interior
appropriations bill passed by Congress
and expected to be signed by President
Reagan provides $943 million for the
operation of Indian programs, facility con
struction and road construction.
The bill provides $258.1 million for
Indian education programs, including $26
million for Johnson-O’
Malley programs
and $52.7 million for continuing education.
Funding for Indian services is $232.5
million, an increase of $3.6 million over
1981. Housing was increased to $30.1
million from $22.7 million and the NavajoHopi settlement program was reduced
from $12.7 million to $4.2 million.
Aid to tribal government, law enforce
ment and social services w ere increased

slightly and self-determination services
reduced slightly.
The appropriation for economic de
velopment and employment programs is
decreased by about $18 million with
almost all of the cut in the employment
development programs which would re
ceive $27.7 million compared with $45.7
million in 1981. There is $8.4 million pro
vided for business enterprise development
and $19.9 million for road maintenance.
The bill provides $83.9 million for natural
resource development, a decrease of $3
million from the 1981 level.
Trust responsibilities receives an in
crease of $2.3 million for a total of $47.3
million. An increase of about $4 million is
provided for facilities operation.

W abanaki
A llia n c e

Tribal funding plan_________

Be a big brother

Indians appeal to
Pope for rights

YOUNG READER, Ryan Gabriel Ritter
of Indian Township, a Passamaquoddy,
visited Indian Island recently.

INDIAN TOWNSHIP - Edmund F.
Vandall, the first Indian principal at the
Catholic-oriented reservation elementary
school here, has resigned after serving
one year.
He has taken a job with Mattawamkeag
schools.
Vandall, 52, said he had “no comment
why” he resigned the principalship, but
the Turtle Mountain Chippewa-Cree said
he left last month “with much regret.”
Edward Spearin of Robbinston, a former
school principal, has been named acting
head of the Township school, according to
the Maine Indian Education in Calais.
Prior to Vandall, the school had been
continuously under the supervision of a
Catholic nun, for at least a century. In
recent years, state standards required
that the nun be properly certified as a
school principal. Also, teaching nuns were
required to have educational credentials.
Vandall expressed disappointment that
conflicts in the perception of his role at the
school could not be ironed out. "It was
very difficult for me, leaving,” he said. “I

PROPOSAL TO THE PENOBSCOT NATION
FOR FULL OWNERSHIP OF WABANAKI ALLIANCE
The following proposed 1982-1983 budget is the projected minimum need for
complete Penobscot Nation sponsorship of the tribal newspaper, Wabanaki Alliance.
The budget covers the fiscal year starting July 1, 1982.
The editorial board
will consist of Penobscot tribal members, and the content of the newspaper will
primarily reflect and serve tribal members, both on and off reservation.
The
background of the newspaper is that it grew out of the services provided by the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, through Diocesan Human Relations Services.
The newspaper has been continuously published through Diocesan sponsorship since
1977, but this much appreciated support is no longer available to us.
For the
past year, the Penobscot Nation has contributed most of the cost of publishing
the newspaper, and it seems appropriate that the Nation should take over complete
production, if this is the will of the people.
Free subscriptions will be provided to each Penobscot tribal member's family,
no matter where they live.
As proposed, the one-year budget will cost each tribal member §15.50.
tribal members decide nc t to fund the newspaper, it will cease publication

If

EXPENSES:

REVENUES:
Penobscot Nation.......

23,500

Salaries......................

S 16,500

Subscriptions..........

2,000

Clerical h e l p ................

500

i o r r j c .n
Typesetting/printing.........

Donations..............

4,000

Postage.......................

1,250

Telephone.....................

1,000

Travel........................

1,000

Supplies......................

TOTAL

$ 28,500

500

Office space/misc............

1,250

TOTAL

S 28,500

W abanaki Alliance April 1982

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(Continued from page 1
}

Tribai/State Commission, in this news
maquoddy representative to the legislature paper.]
Phillips’ strategy was to rush word of
did not participate.
the impending bill to a meeting of the
Opposing free hunting was the commit
tee chairman. Rep. Robert MacEachern of Penobscot tribal council, where he first
spoke, then obtained a resolution endors
Lincoln, a Democrat, and committee mem
ber Rep. Paul F. Jacques, a Waterviile ing the compromise — no fees on Indian
lands beyond state fees.
Democrat. Jacques wanted reciprocity,
Phillips said tribal legal counsel. Thomas
where Indians would pay the same amount
they charged non-Indians to hunt on Indian N. Tureen, has requested an opinion on
the understanding of the free licenses
land.
The Bangor Daily News advocated such from former state attorney general,
Richard Cohen, a land claims negotiator
a policy in an editorial entitled, “ Indians
for the state.
should pay.”
Meanwhile, Phillips, an independent,
The News said, ‘‘
free hunting, fishing
has met with Democratic Gov. Joseph
and trapping licenses, symbolic privileges
Brennan, to discuss improved communica
rooted in old treaties and ancestral prece
tion. He said he told Brennan such bills
dent, are no longer appropriate.”
as the one Post proposed could lead to a
Phillips was able to stall for time by- “ very strained relationship” between
Indians and the state.
convincing the Fisheries and Wildlife
In other matters, Penobscot tribal
Committee that the free hunting issue
officials are upset with Brennan for refus
should be brought to a newly-formed
ing to budget money for Indian scholar
Tribal/State Commission,
empowered
ships. “ Maine Indian Scholarships still
under the land claims act to adjudicate
matters of mutual interest. The problem exist, but there’ no money in it. That's
s
was that Passamaquoddys had been slow his [Brennan's] way of getting around it,”
in appointing a commission representative,
Phillips said.
and the commission had not yet held a first
The scholarships were formerly funded
meeting. [See separate story on _ the
at about 550,000 annually.

Houlton band moves
Barbara Jean Francis

Island woman cuts LP
INDIAN ISLAND — “ I went out and
bought myself a $10 guitar. I took it home
and strummed around. I never had guitar
lessons, I never had voice lessons.”
Quiet-spoken and modest about her
talents. Barbara Jean Francis, 29, was
recalling how she started into music, at
age 13. Her first guitar was a Gene Autrey
special. Perhaps it’s her grandfather,
Joseph Francis' blood in her veins — but
today she has a gentle but strong voice that
is anything but amateur, and her playing
is simple but effective accompaniment.
She now plays an Ovation Applause
guitar.
Barbara played folk music until about a
year-and-one-half ago. when she joined
Indian Island's charismatic movement,
an offshoot of St. Ann’ Catholic Church.
s
Now, Barbara is cutting her first LP
record album, and it will consist of the
music she shares with fellow charismatics.
It is religious music, but not restricted to
Catholics or any particular denomination.
Five of the com positions are Barbara's
own, including These Are The Times, a
possible title cut. Barbara test-marketed
a 45 which included These Are The Times,
and sold three-quarters of the 375 press
ings, a very encouraging start. She is
recording at Charles Street Studios in
Bangor, co-owned by Mark Wellman and
Galen LaBrie.
“ My involvement with the charismatic
movement was what persuaded m e” to
do the album, Barbara said. “ They said I

really brought the holy spirit into the
meetings.”
Barbara has considered a career in
music, ‘‘
but to g o completely professional
would be too time-consuming for me. My
main interest of all is to share with the
charismatic movement.” She has also
played weddings, funerals and other
occasions.
“ I want to share with other people the
things . . . the meaning of the words in the
song, that the holy spirit put in me,”
Barbara said. Other titles of her own
compositions are Alleluia, Together W e’ll
Earn His Reward, H e’ Made a Place For
s
Us, and Our Days of Waiting.
Barbara would like the album to be a
Christian message for all. In som e cuts,
she adds a tom-tom [Indian drum] because
"this makes the music joyful, and it’s
comfortable for the people on the Island
because it comes from their culture and
heritage.”
Barbara's new LP will start with 1,000
pressings, and she is seeking a triballysponsored small business loan to finance
the estimated $2,500 cost.
Barbara attended St. Joseph ’ Academy
s
in Biddeford, where she played folk
masses, and later earned her GED from
Old Town High School. She studied
painting at the Institute of American
Indian Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and
has served in the U.S . Air Force.
She is the daughter of Alberta and
Paul Francis of Indian Island, and has
three brothers, Paul, Douglas and Patrick.

Wampanoags may file another land suit
“What w e are addressing is a lot of
HYANNIS, Mass. — An Indian group
here says it will file a Si billion suit over illegal landtaking that violated the law,”
native lands, taken over the years by non- Peters said. “There are hundreds of
Indians, in the southeastern area of the thousands of acres in Massachusetts
- which w ere illegally taken for townships.
state.
“W e’ not too concerned about money.
re
John Peters, a Wampanoag and execu
W e’ specifically looking for land,” he
re
tive director of the state Commission on
Indian Affairs, said the planned suit will
said.
contest the taking of Indian land by state
The Wampanoags failed to get back
land in a three-year legal battle in 1979.
and federal governments.

HOULTON — The Houlton Band of
Maliseet Indians and the Houlton Band
Health Department have recently moved
to a new location. They are now located in
the Putnam Arcade Building, Room 4,
Market Square, Houlton, Maine. Business
hours are conducted Monday thru Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telephone number
for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
is 532-9443, telephone number for the
Houlton Band Health Department is
532-9442.
Current staff of the Houlton Band of
Maliseet Indians are Terry Polchies,
Chairman; Gene Kilpatrick, Administra

tive Assistant; David KiUmer, Fiscal
Officer, and Sue Desiderio, Tribal Clerk.
Current staff of the Houlton Band
Health Department on hand to assist
clients are Frederick Tomah, Director;
Barbara Morris, Planner; Mary London,
Coordinator of Outreach; Sally Joseph and
Gloria Tomah, Outreach W orkers and
Brenda Polchies, Administrative Secre
tary. Paul Phillips is Alcoholism Counselor
who is maintaining office hours with the
Houlton Band Health Department in
Houlton and the Association of Aroostook
Indians in Presque Isle at 429 Main Street
Mondays and Thursdays. He can be con
tacted there at 764-7001.

Joseph Stanley and Dawn Fitch

Fitch-Stanley engagement announced
INDIAN TOW NSHIP - Mrs. Phyllis
M. Lank of Indian Township has an
nounced the engagem ent of her daughter,
Dawn Rachael Fitch, to Albert Joseph
Stanley, son of Mr. and Mrs. David
Soctomah of Indian Township.
Miss Fitch will be an Honors graduate
from Calais High School this June; she is a
member of the National Honor Society.
Stanley is a member of the Indian Town
ship Police Department. Miss Fitch is
planning to attend college this fall, while
her fiance will continue his police work.
Both Fitch and Stanley are Passamaquoddy tribal members.
An August wedding is planned.

FOR SALE
3-4 Bedroom House
Indian Island
Remodeled
w ood furnace and
separate oil furnace
garage
— Serious Inquiries Only —
Cali Blanche Corbett, 207-827-7667
or write:
1 Main Street, Indian Island
Old Town, Maine 04468

Page 6

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

Alcoholism

Still

a

By Helen-Becker
INDIAN ISLAND —
A testimony
should be your own. I’ heard that many
ve
times. Today I am compelled to speak for
others. A long time ago I decided to live
for those who would if they could. Many of
my friends have died and since they are
unable to speak I feel I have been selected
to speak for them.
I am not a soldier of the Salvation
Army. I simply attend services there. I
have the freedom to drink alcoholic bev
erages if I select. Recently I made a
covenant with God Himself to never touch
alcohol again. It was not a problem and I
thank God for that but NOW I am certain
it never will be. I decided I do not need it.
It's as simple as that.
I became sickened by the fact that booze
kills. Many of my friends can not vouch for
this because their graves have been long
silent.
When someone expires, you inherit that
part of them that you admire most. They
become a part of you. Perhaps it is that
accumulation of my memories and their
heartache that motivates me to plea with
others to learn from their mistakes.
Booze initially makes you feel good but
is a drug, a depressant. Like many vices it
is easily accessible, fun, and cheap. E very
one knows ten bums can come up with the
price of one ju g of wine. Little kids .. they
can get big kids to get it. Money talks. Or
they can steal it from their parents. The
government cooperates by lowering the
price for our servicemen so they can
afford to get bombed. Commercials adver
tise and lure and encourage booze at the
family table and picnics. People are of the
opinion worldwide that we can not live or
that life is not exciting without this liquid
garbage.
I mostly liked the taste because I dis
guised it as a dessert. Anyone that has
smelled booze by itself knows it stinks!
Anyone that has tasted straight vodka or
rubbing alcohol choked on it or at least
winced.
I had a friend I thought to be the
exception. He could chug-a-lug on a half
gallon of vodka. That is until it killed him.
He died in his brother’ arms on the way
s
to the hospital. Everyone loved him. He’
d
do anything for you. He just didn’ do
t
anything for himself.
A neighbor with two kids was alcoholic.
I broke into her apartment when I heard
glass breaking. It’ good to, “live and let
s
live,” but you can’ live and let die! She
t
was passed out on the bed. Her two year
old son was sitting on the floor and
throwing glass high into the air. The
broken vodka and beer bottles w ere piled
as high as the kid was! She credited me for
saving the other little boy's life. He had
swallowed a bottle of aspirin. Yes, booze
can sure be fun but it sure isn’ fun for the
t
kids! One day her husband went out to see
why she had not followed him into the

house. She couldn’ ... she was dead. She
t
was thirty years old.
Her brother was alcoholic too. He
looked sixty-five at thirty-five. Head bent,
coat dragging on the ground . . . an old
man. That's what booze does. It ages you,
like a disease.
Alcoholism is inherited. Some inherit
ance! Would you give your child a gift of
cancer?
Let’ put things in perspective. We
s
admire a gigantic tree, flowers, stars,
mountains, etc. And they’ all equally
re
beautiful. But they are dumb unthinking
things. If we think they are so great . . .
shouldn’ we value our minds; the most
t
magnificant thing God ever created, all
the more? Should we use this apparatus or
let it lie stagnant, drugged, or polluted? I
feel this brain was given to use not abuse.
I appreciate what God gave me so I made
a decision with mine . . . not to kill or
destroy it with alcohol.
People are so ungrateful for the ability
to think. I’ seen too many kids on street
ve
corners that are stagnant . . . wandering
around . . . all spaced out . . . abusing
healthy minds and bodies. It sickens me.
I've been to Washington, D.C. and seen
1300 retarded people, a whole warehouse
of mentally defective people from ages
eight to eighty. They are stagnant too but
they have no choice! I’ been to Pineland
ve
several times and gone to the infirmery to
visit the bed patients. They have no choice
either. I saw a little boy with a crash
helmet on so he wouldn’ self-destruct. He
t
was blind, deaf, and retarded. I saw old
people with diapers on. One old lady sat in
a highchair screaming. They w ere all
seriously limited in their behavior. So
when I see healthy kids abusing and not
using the brain that God gave them, and
believing that getting high on drugs is the
answer to how cruel life has been to them
. .. it freaks me out! I feel like grabbing
them by the hair and dragging them to
Washington, D.C. to see hundreds of
mentally defective human beings. And
then let them boast about cruelties of
teenage life ... if they can. I want to shout
. . . your mind is a gift to be treasured.
We’ been given a brain to think a way
ve
out of our dilemma. I do not care what
your age is. Use what's between your
ears. Don’ let it sit there like a clump of
t
marshmallow. Observe, listen, find out
what booze is all about. I have never in my
life been discouraged against booze. There
was always someone to encourage.
You can get high on God. You can face
any adversity with His help. You’ but to
ve
ask. You can beat alcohol, you can defeat
drugs, and you can defy homosexuality.
With God’ help you can laugh when the
s
chips are down because with God, no
storm lasts forever.
To me, fun is not puking all over
yourself. Gluttony is a disgrace in any
form. There is no fun in knowing a friend

M AIL T O W ABAN AK I ALLIANCE, 95 M AIN ST R EE T, O R O N O , M A IN E 04473

W A B A N A K I

A L L IA N C E

S U B S C R IP T IO N

F O R M

( M a k e c h e c k s p a y a b le t o W a b a n a k i A llia n ce )

1E N CL O SE :
j

j $5 f o r c m r e a r
U .S.)

,. .1_____ 1( I n d iv id u a l —

j
|46 f o r G m y e a r
t_____ 1( C a n a d a )

1

J 110 f o r o m y e a r
!( I n s t i t u t i o n a l r a t e )

L—

J

]

C tty / T o w n a n d S ta te

.

U p G c M

choked to death on his own puke! There is
no fun for families deprived of necessities
because you’
relooking for kicks. There is
no fun for wives and children who get beat
up in a drunken brawl. There is no fun in
eviction because the rent money has been
blown on booze. There is no fun for the
hard working victims you’
ve robbed of
possessions they earned, tG feed your
habit. There is no fun- watching your
father walk around in a rage like mine did.
It’ all frightening. (Even a priest told me
s
to keep from an evil house but what do
you do when it’ your own home?) There is
s
no fun when your family has to bury you
before your time. You not only rob them
... you rob yourself.
Entire families are neglected and abus
ed because of your good times. More
homes have been wrecked, accidents
caused, more lives ruined, more divorces
obtained, more misery, evil, sweat, tears
and even death attributed to booze than
any other disease on the face of the earth!
Alcohol thrives on disease, destruction,
disorder, despair, danger dishonor, debt,
defamation, defeat, degradation, depres
sion, delinquency, delirium, delusion,
deceit, double-cross, divorce, disrespect,
discontent, depravation, detachment, dis
comfort, deterioration, despondency, des
titution, dishonesty, and diarrhea. Notice
that I selected words that start with a D
.. . just like the devil. But remember the
ultimate kick in the liver is death!
kick in the liver is death!
Alcoholism is a progressive illness. One
becomes mentally obsessed with drinking
regardless of consequences. Will power is
not enough. Alcoholics take advantage of
people and situations and it causes stress.
They have to want to get counseling to be
helped, unless they ask God to release
them from that liquid bondage. Unfortu
nately, some never do and lose every
thing, even life.
A judge once asked my friend, “Andy,
why did you drive when you knew you
were drunk?” He replied, “Judge, because
I was too drunk to walk!”
Well,' he was lucky. He never hurt
anyone. Some of my other friends were
splashed all over the highway because of
drunken drivers. One guy got off with a

four hundred dollar violation. But he could
never compensate for robbing a family of
their only son. It still hurts me so. I know
it hurts them.
And one fellow, well, he was so tough
and, “in with the crowd,” he not only got
drunk and fell off a m otorcycle and broke
his leg .. . he climbed back up on the bike
cast and all; drunk of course, ’
cause that
gives you courage, fell off again and
broke his leg in another place! But he
wasn’ so tough he could escape death. His
t
friends had a beer bust at his funeral.
I ’ seen men rolling in their own feces
ve
and yet crying for more booze, begging for
it. I’ seen men crawling in alleys with no
ve
shelter, hanging on to telephone poles,
puke all over their clothes. I’
ve seen
young girls taken advantage of because
booze takes away your inhibitions. (It
could be the first drink or the 31st!)
Beware, for no human can tolerate too
much booze before they are held captive
by it.
I had a cousin who was knocked out by a
sailor, outside a bar room and left to
freeze to death on her birthday. I’ seen
ve
people beaten, knifed, broken, defeated,
empty, suicidal, alone, with bodies ruined
and abused. All that for liquid garbage.
And I’ seen enough!
ve
I recently knelt at a friend’ side when
s
she was dying from a condition caused by
alcohol. It wasn’ very pleasant to see
t
people standing by helpless because no
amount of money could rejuvenate a dead
liver. Unfortunately, the organ died
before she did. I did not enjoy seeing a
young woman wearing a death mask in a
pityful shell of a body all tattered like a
worn out coat. And it hurts to see her
family drinking to forget, delighting in the
very thing they cursed.
I would like to thank the Lord for
allowing m e to know the following . . .
Buster, Patty, Brian, Sunny, Eugene,
Helen, Polly, Cyrille, and Senabeh. These
lives were snuffed out early but all this
human suffering was not in vain. For
miraculously I have benefitted. Their
addiction has set me free. And I shall not
be moved. It took all these deaths and
more before I could say, Lord, there by
the grace of God, died I.

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

Page 7

Per capita paid out
(Continued from page 1
)
In a recent related action, the Penobscots voted about 3-1 to set up a voluntary,
rather than mandatory, children's trust
fund. This fund will protect per capita
earned by those members under 18 years
of age, should parents choose to use the
fund.
The average quarterly per capita pay
ment to Penobscot tribal members hovers
around $250, with somewhat more paid to
the elderly. Passamaquoddys, even at
100 percent, have earned closer to $200
quarterly — possibly because of the larger
tribal membership. Penobscots, in their
first year of per capita payments, will
each earn in excess of $1,200, it is esti
mated.
Under terms of the land claims, per
capita money cannot be used to compute,
or revise welfare and other benefits for
an individual, but per capita tax status is
uncertain. The IRS has advised that if
tribal members report per capita as

income, they will receive a refund if it is
determined that per capita is tax-free
income.
The Penobscot Nation has advised
members to use their own discretion in
reporting income from per capita. Some
members have not yet accepted any of the
payments, in a number of cases because of
their philosophical disagreement with the
land claims settlement.
Currently, the Penobscot Nation is using
the investment firm of Kidder, Peabody
& Co., which has a Maine office in Port
land. The tribe switched its accounts from
Merrill, Lynch, after some conflicts with
that company.
In related business, Governor Love
said the projected income from some
140,000 acres of newly acquired tribal
lands will be $438,660 for the fiscal year,
with a fee of $77,750 (additional) to be paid
to Dead River Company of Bangor. Dead
River is under contract to manage the
woodlands for the tribe.

The card game

Prison inmates seek teacher
THOMASTON — A group of inmates at
Maine State Prison are looking for
someone to act as spiritual counselor/
teacher, in “the ways of the Native
American life and religions.”
According to Frederick Thurlow, a
Passamaquoddy inmate, a Native Ameri
can Spiritual Group has been formed at
the prison, through the prison chaplain s
offce. “We believe that there must be
someone out there that is willing and able
to fill this position. We cannot pay for this
service, but we believe that there must be

Kim Mitchell

Indian TV show to return
ORONO — Wickeegan, a television
lumal o f Maine Indian affairs, will begin
egular monthly broadcasting next month
ver the public television network.
Successfully aired in the past, the show
is hosted by Kim Mitchell, a Penobscot
who has been employed by Maine Public
Broadcasting Network [MPBN] for more
than five years.
The first showing of this season’s
Wickeegan will be Monday, May 3, at
7:30 p.m. The show will air on channel
12, Orono; channel 13, Calais; channel 10,
Presque Isle, and channel 26, Biddeford.
Monthly shows will continue through
August, at which point Mitchell will submit
a proposal for further Wickeegan produc
tions.
The feature-style format of the half
hour TV show is intended to embrace the
entire Maine Indian community, using

Indian Island

factual presentations to enlighten all
viewers on different aspects of Maine’s
original people.
Prospective topics for separate Wickee
gan shows are tribal history, unemploy
ment, tribal government, land acquisition
under the Indian claims settlement act,
and the importance of the tribal census —
that determines who is defined as Indian.
Mitchell said he is delighted to be re
turning to Wickeegan after a lapse of
several months. He welcom es suggestions
and comments, and can be reached by
writing him at MPBN-TV, Box 86, Orono,
Maine 04473.
The son of Sadie Mitchell and the late
Lt. Gov. Edwin Mitchell of Indian Island,
Kim Mitchell is a University of Maine at
Orono graduate and former Penobscot
Nation tribal councilor. He resides in
Bangor with his wife, Sharon, a school
teacher.

someone out there that cares about their
brothers, the American Indians,” Thurlow
said.
Thurlow said such a person could help
Indian inmates to be better people "upon
release from this institution.”
The group would like to study Indian
ways a few hours each week. Anyone
wishing to donate books, tapes or feathers
may contact the group at Maine State
Prison, c/o Chaplain’ Office, Box A,
s
Thomaston, Maine 04861.
“We are all very willing to learn,"
Thurlow said.

For all the
reasons
you need abank
We are at your full service. VISA.
Check Guarantee. All-In-One Check
ing. Northeast N.O.W. Accounts.
Free Checking. Period. Check Credit.
Individual Retirement Accounts.
Statement Savings. Certificates of
Deposit. Saver’ Bonds. Home Loans.
s
Home Improvement Loans. Home
Equity Loans. Auto Loans. Business
Loans. Collateral Loans. Vacation
Loans. All types of installment loans.
Bank-by-mail. Night depository.
Easy-to-read, detailed statements.
And a lot more. See what we mean?
Com e talk to us.

Task force looks for new coordinator
BOSTON — The search is on for a new
coordinator for the Federal Regional
Council’ Indian Task Force.
s
The form er coordinator, Barbara
Namias, a Mohawk, has resigned. She
cited funding problems among her reasons
for leaving. Her predecessor was Gregory
P. Beusing, a non-Indian, who is attending
law school.
The task force deals with federal funds

for Indians in the northeast — such as
Adrrtinistration for Native Americans
(ANA) grants.
An ANA update by Tom Battiste, a co
founder of Association of Aroostook In
dians in Houlton, was on a recent task
force agenda. Battiste, an Indian graduate
of the now defunct Ricker College in
Houlton, has worked many years in Indian
affairs.

NORTHEAST SANK
Member Northeast Bankshare
Association and F.D.I.C.
An Equal Opportunity Lender

Page 8

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

The Indian Island five

Court mulls residents who
refuse to make payments
INDIAN ISLAND — The tribal housing
authority and several families living in newhousing are still at a standoff, after a year
long court battle.
At stake is about $20,000 in payments
the families refuse to remit.
The latest wrinkle came last month,
when tribal court Judge Andrew Mead
‘‘
took under advisement” motions by law
yers for the housing authority and tenants,
telling both sides he would render a deci
sion soon.
Tribal housing authority director Rick
Mitchell said he sees no reason why per
capita land claims payments of tribal
members can’ be attached, to pay off the
t
money owed the authority. But Mead
said, in an aside, that he wonders if his
court has jurisdiction over land claims
interest payments.
Tribal law is apparently foggy on the
issue of attachment of per capita pay
ments, which are usually about $250$300 per quarter-year, depending on
prevailing interest rates.
Named in separate civil suits in Penob
scot tribal court are James Sappier,
Gerardo [Jerry] Pardilla, Doreen Bartlett,
Joseph Sapiel, Roger Ranco, and Christine
LaCasse. The cases of other -defendants
were dismissed, after out-of-court agree
ments were reached to pay off debts.

Defendants in cases dismissed were
Brenda Fields, Kenneth Paul, Dennis
Pehrson, Theresa Snell and Louise K.
Paul.
Michael Ranco was expected to be
named in another suit by the housing
authority, sources said, and in another
action, Deanna Labossiere is expected to
challenge housing authority policy in
court.
All of the above-named tribal members
reside in federally-funded housing that
they are under contract to purchase over
time, making regular payments.
However, lawyer Winfred A. Stevens of
Bangor, representing defendants in the
housing authority suits, alleged in court
that residents have no equity in the hom es,
property lines don’ exist, and should the
t
tribal member die, there is no estate value
to the property. Furthermore, the precise
purchase price is not known, and should
a resident wish to pay off his loan, he
wouldn’ know what to pay, Stevens said.
t
Paul F. Zendzian, a Bangor lawyer who
is counsel for the housing authority, con
ceded that there were a few problems,
but said some of them have already been
corrected.
Mitchell told Wabanaki Alliance that the
prolonged litigation has already cost the
housing authority
several
thousand
dollars in lawyer’ fees.
s

Penobscot helps form
Indian Republican group
ORONO — A national Indian Republican
group is on its feet and flexing its muscle
for a ‘‘ push” to recruit new members.
big
That’ the word from Andrew X. Akins,
s
a Penobscot and treasurer o f The American
Indian National Republican Federation,
headquartered in Washington,
D.C.
Akins said the group was formed in June
1981, by Indian people who support
President Reagan.
Although still a “ low-key” political
group with a small membership, Akin.;
said he believes the federation has good
potential. Akins will coordinate organizing
Maine and New England Indians.
“ We intend to make Indian concerns and
needs known to the Republican Party,”
Akins said, adding, “ we do not represent,
nor do we speak for any other Indian
group.” Akins is convinced that Indians
can have an “ impact” on the current
Administration, “ for the betterment of
Indian people.”
Akins plans to attend an annual meeting
next month of the National Republican
Heritage Council, to be held in Pennsyl
vania.
Calling it “an occasion for great joy
among us,” President Reagan wrote to the
federation’
s president, Ted
Bryant,
saying “your organization will serve as an
important line of communication between
American Indians throughout our nation
and this administration.” Bryant said the
group’ purpose is to bring American
s
Indians into the political process, and make
them aware of modern partisan politics.
There are almost a million and a half
Americans of Indian heritage who would be
eligible for membership in the new group,
he said.
Louis Bruce, first vice president o f the
federation and former Commissioner of
Indian Affairs, said, “ our members will be
a consistent Indian voice in Republican
party councils. The original Americans

have been silent too long.”
Any Indian person interested in joining
the group has two criteria to meet, Akins
said. He or she must be a registered
Republican, and must believe in the
philosophy of Indian sovereignty.
For further information write or call:
Maine Republican State Committee,
51 Chapel St., Augusta, Maine 04330,
telephone 207-622-6247.

S.C. FRANCIS of Indian Island m oves snow for the Penobscot Nation.

Teens need others' help

INDIAN ISLAND — Mom and Dad may
be worried about their teenage son or
daughter’ behavior, but if so, they aren’
s
t
the only ones.
Sgt. Dale E. Lolar of the Indian Island
police department, and Carolyn A. Strnad,
human services director for the tribe, are
just as concerned.
Both Lolar and Strnad told Wabanaki
Alliance that despite available counseling,
social work and other services, teenage
problems are continuing at Indian Island.
Common problems are abuse of alcohol
and drugs, and anti-social behavior, often
in violation of the law.
Strnad believes “there’ more people
s
out there (on the reservation) that want to
see this stuff stop . . . somebody’ got to
s
start if anything’ going to be done about
s
this.”
Lolar said he would like to get “every
body involved” in efforts to encourage
good behavior and self-control among
teenagers. “Don’ be so pessimistic,” he
t
advises parents and others.

Also, Lolar said, “people can be more
frequent with their calls (reporting
trouble); don’ think you're bugging us. It
t
might not end up in court, but it all adds
up,” he said.
Strnad said several m eetings to discuss
substance abuse among younger Penobscots have taken place, attended by John
Jeffers, social worker; outside education
consultant, Murray Shulman; and tribal
official Philip Guimond.
“I think the thing to stress is the pre
ventative side,” said Strnad. “When you
see a six-year-old smoking, tell him to put
it out."
Lolar and Strnad pointed out that the
tribe has lost its youth aid officer with the
resignation of Bonnie Sappier, and a
replacement had not been found.
Strnad said people must “support one
another. We don’ mean to say that all
t
teenagers are bad.” If a teen would come
forward and volunteer, the successful
“teen night” concept could be revived, she
said.

AN IN V IT A T IO N TO V IS IT

THE
UNIVERSITY
BOOK STORE
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT ORONO

WITH 20,000 DIFFERENT TITLES ON HAND
WE TRY TO MAINTAIN AN INVENTORY OF
THE FINEST IN POPULAR AND SCHOLARLY
BOOKS.
SPECIAL ORDERS AND MAIL ORDERS WELCOMED.

207 - 581-7241
TOM DORWORTH, pharmacist to the
Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribes,
says his work is “ very interesting, chal
lenging and a good learning experience for
me.” He is serving a unique 2-3 year ap
pointment through the U.S. Public Health
Service. The 31-year-old native of St.
Louis, Mo., lives in Pembroke, but may
move to Old Town. His wife and two sons
have not yet moved to Maine from Boston,
where Dorworth previously worked.
Dorworth spends Mondays and Tuesdays
at the Island, Thursdays at Indian Town
ship, and Wednesdays and Fridays at
Pleasant Point.

H o u rs :

8—8 Mondays thru Thursdays
8—
5 Fridays
9—
4 Saturdays

Hours slightly reduced when school is not in session.
WE ARE LOCATED IN THE MEMORIAL UNION
UNDERNEATH HAUCK AUDITORIUM.

Page 9

Wahan&ki Alliance April 1982

Four will go to

German clinic

(Continued from page 1
)
in 1980 that while a prisoner, a Passamaquoddy girl he befriended became preg
nant, and that he unknowingly fathered
a son, Roger Gabriel Ritter, who is now 36
and works for tribal housing.
Ritter said it is this connection to the
tribes that led him to solicit the support of
the German Good Templars, sponsors of
the six-month treatment program. Ritter
claims the Templars — an international
organization — has an 80 percent success
rate in treating German alcoholics. He sees
no reason why Indians of Maine cannot do
as well.
For a number of years, the Passamaquoddys and Penobscots have exclusively
used the Alcoholics Anonymous [AA]
approach to treatment, a program that re
quires recognition o f a “ higher pow er.’’
The success of AA with Indians has been
pegged at about 40 percent. Ritter said
the Templars’ treatment will double the
success rate.
Ritter said he does not think AA is doing
the job it should, and he points out that
the Good Templars’program has “ nothing
to do with any religion. It may be the
breakthrough, for the four Indians who
come to Germany,” he told Wabanaki
Alliance.
Ritter completed a visit to the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot reservations last
month, and said he was amazed at his
success. Tribal officials had been skeptical
that anyone would volunteer to try a sixmonth program in a foreign country, but
Ritter said already there is a waiting list.
A former travel agent with 32 years in
the motion picture business, Ritter said he
is devoting himself full time to helping the
Indians in their fight against alcoholism.
He said that in retirement, he would like
to do something worthwhile to help people.
He has spent several thousand dollars of
his own money, which he does not expect
to get back, he said.

Ritter acknowledged that for years,
Germans have had romantic fascination
with Indians, spurred by the many Indian
novels of Karl May, a German author whc.
never saw an Indian in his life, so far as is
known. M ay’ books apparently have little
s
resemblance to the truth, but may have
helped Ritter win the financial support
o f the Templars, who will enroll the four
Indians at Mahlertshof clinic, a live-in
treatment center with a rigid, round-theclock schedule for patients.
Ritter, who does not himself have a
drinking problem, said he is familiar with
the Templars’ approach. “ It really goes
into the subconscious . . . this is one of, in
my opinion, the most important things
they d o." He said therapists find the
reason for drinking; “ if not after two
months, after four months.
“ They have to talk, the patients. The
main thing is to talk, open and free.”
Ritter claims that while U.S. doctors
say it takes two weeks to clear alcohol
from the body, German experts say 6-8
weeks are required. Ritter said he has
convinced Wayne A. Newell, Passamaquoddy director of health and social
services, of the German program's bene
fits.
If it works, Ritter thinks the Templars
program will have positive repercussions
for the Indian community. “ If we have
really sober Indians, we can get qualitywork. If he [an Indian] gets sober, he gets
reliable; he gets work.” he said.
After six months, Ritter hopes a second
group of volunteers for the program —
w'hich will cost the Indians nothing — will
be women. On the third program, Ritter
hopes to bring juvenile Indians to Ger
many.
Each patient’ six-month treatment will
s
cost $8,000, Ritter said. He did not state
whether the Good Templars will extend
the free program for Indians indefinitely,

The German Mahlertshof clinic, where Indians will spend six months.
but he said Micmacs and Maliseets are
welcome to apply.
Ritter said he personally wants to stay
out of the limelight. “ Indians have to do
it,” he said, but “ first we have to train
the Indians. I myself want to stay in the
background . . . and sell them the idea . . .
motivate them.”
Ritter suggested the abandoned, van
dalized campground and cabins at Indian
Township could be renovated for a treat
ment center.
In Germany, the volunteers will probably
have English-speaking teachers, or will
have an interpreter.
Ritter said he envisions four key steps in
the Templars’program:
1 W e’ not allowed to drink alcohol
]
re
2] We don’ want to drink alcohol
t
3] W e don’ need to drink alcohol
t

4]
W ehe Indians. W e’ too proud to
re
drink alcohol
Ritter is thoroughly convinced that the
Good Templars' work is the answer to
Indian alcoholism in Maine, and he b e
lieves the U.S. government, and State of
Maine, have done a poor job of treating
the problem.
About the Templars’ clinics he said,
“The success those people have is so
amazing, that the German social security,
the insurance (companies) and other insti
tutions send their alcoholics to the Good
Templar clinics. As you probably know,
the German health ministry acknowledges
alcoholism as a serious mental illness.
The U.S. government should take an
example on it, but maybe they are not so
much interested in getting the native
Americans out of the alcohol problem.”

W ORLD PEA CE
MARCH

l a E G p p o r t o f t is c U n ite d

Nations g p e d & l S e g s i o a on D is& rm & zse n t II — Junm

(An interfaith project initiated by the Nipponzan Myohoji Japanese Buddhist Monks)

Leaving B angor A pril 1, 1982...
THE WORLD PLACE MARCH WILL BEGIN ON INDIAN ISLAND ON MARCH 31

, fe"flgr s. w
*
4

L/ 'Y-r.l
i.

Can y o u w a lk w ith th e
m o n k s f o r a ll o r p a rt o f
th e w a y ? Can you
p r o v id e fo o d and
s h e lte r f o r the
w a lk e r s ? Can y ou
o r g a n iz e o r atten d a
w e lc o m in g vigil,
dinner, h o u se m eeting,
A1 Saplel of Indian Island contemplates trip to Germany [see story]. With him in the
photo is Shannon Snell, nine, of Indian Island, and AI’s dog, Bops.

F or in fo rm a tio n c a ll

He's going to Germany

liehard Russell— 942-1679 (Bangor)
Larry Dansinger— 93S-2219 (Newport)
^arcl Brewster— 622-5234 (Augusts)
rracy Booth--78l-5l59 (Portland)
^elia Sargent— 439-3154 (Kittery)

INDIAN ISLAND — Elwin [AI] Sapiel
is one of four volunteers about to begin a
rigorous six-month alcoholism treatment
program in West Germany.
He met with W olfgang Ritter, the former
German POW who fathered a Passamaquoddy son, and who is trying to develop
the German-Indian treatment connection.
Sapiel said he has tried various ap
proaches to his drinking problem, and
when he heard about this one, he thought
to himself, “Yeah, why not do that? I
need that. I’m a recovering alcoholic.’’

Sapiel, a Penobscot, will accompany
three Passamaquoddys on the pilot project,
as Ritter calls it. Sapiel recalls, “ I had 15
minutes to decide, and I said I’ go. It’s
d
a beautiful opportunity to learn about
something. I’ goin g over to be a therapist
m
. . . that’ a once in a lifetime opportunity.
s
I’m going to the library to start reading up
on their culture . . . so I w on’ feel at a
t
loss.”
Sapiel and the others — Kevin Stevens,
Howard Stevens and Charles Stevens —
will be flying from Bangor to Germany
this month.

...Arriving
New York City
June S, 1982

Page 10

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

book nook
Love is Lakota theme
DENVER, Colorado — “Spirit Song” is
a new book by Tony Shearer, a Lakota
who is professor of Ethnic Studies at the
University of Colorado. Published a few
weeks ago, it is already in paperback.
The main theme through the two stories
in the book is love, love of our “earth
mother." The foundation of the story is
found in the great myth, the archtype, the
"beginning of all stories.”
The early peoples of Meso-America
feared the sun would go away becuase
they had betrayed the sun by casting out
the plumed serpent, (Quatzelquatl) son of
the sun, patron of the arts. So they

Passamaquoddys tour UMO
Passamaquoddy students from Pleasant Point spent a day last month touring — in the
first such trip ever — the University of Maine at Orono, through arrangements made by
Ted Mitchell, assistant dean of counseling for Indian students. Present from Shead High
School, Eastport, were sophomores Janice Dana, Jody Yarmal, Fella Newell, Rena
Newell and Patty Morang; juniors Valerie Wilson, Elizabeth Soctomah and Joe Quinn;
senior Sheila Dana, and freshman Horace Neptune. Greeting the visitors, and answering
questions, were UMO Indian students Raphael Sockabasin, Alberta M. Cleaves, Calvin
A. Nicholas, Laura Dana and Heidi Westland. Chris Altvater, a Pleasant Point school
counselor who helped arrange the trip, is working toward a master’s degree in education/counseling. Bus driver was Timothy Newell. Also last month, 20 Indian students
from Lee Academy toured UMO, with UMO Indian student Gail Dana helping with
arrangements.

Two Penobscots on rights panel
PORTLAND — Maine Advisory Com
mittee to the U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights began a new term Jan. 7, when six
reappointed and six new members met in
Portland to discuss the status of civil
rights in Maine. The 12 were appointed to
the panel by the U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights in December 1981, and will serve
for two years.
Continuing as a member is Andrew X.
Akins, former Penobscot Nation tribal
administrator and currently a private
logging contractor on Indian lands. Newly
named to the panel is Vivian F. Massey of
Indian Island, an employment official with
Penobscot Nation and a school board and
housing authority member.
Outgoing chairman Madeleine Giguere,
Professor of Sociology at the University of
Southern Maine, passed the gavel to Lois
Reckitt, Director of the Family Crisis

Shelter in Portland, who becomes chair
man after serving as vice-chairman during
the previous two-year term. Reckitt has
been involved in women’ rights causes in
s
Maine, and serves as New England
regional coordinator for National Or
ganization for Women (NOW).
In her remarks, Giguere said issues the
advisory committee had addressed include
state services to off-reservation Indians,
the status of ethnic groups in the 1980
Census, sexual harassment in the work
place, and the state’ domestic violence
s
law. The Committee published an “In
formation Kit on Sexual Harassment in
Employment," a report summarizing civil
rights developments in Maine during
1980, and a study of the new domestic
violence law. Giguere asserted that she
“will continue to support efforts to
establish equal justice.”

Commentary

Not happy tim es
Decisions are being made “ for” people,
rather than “ by” people. People need to
be part of the decision-making process,
to recognize their value and support their
community.
If we are dominated by a single power
structure controlling all decision-making,
this will breed jealousy, frustration,
hatred, discouragement and will usurp this
decision-making power.
These are not happy times, when we
can’ express our rights and freedom.
t
We need to look at this, we are all in this
together. We need to look down the road
from whence we came, and to where we
are today, and to where we want to go.
We need to set up by-laws for our protec
tion on this journey.
Are we happy with what we have? Do
we need a change, and where are the
changes needed? Can these changes
take place now? With our present govern
ment, are we-the-people the top of all, do
we have a voice in our tribal government?
We know that if we seek we will find
other ideas that can help our tribe and our
selves as a whole; with good, constructive
criticism that never hurts anyone, except
the selfish ones. W e can make this reserva
tion a happy place to live with one another,
and show our people in office that we do
care how things are being run.
People spirit
Progress sometimes takes a beating;
it isn’ always the modern and efficient
t
new ways that win. It’s our own initiative
and work. You have to have the people
with you or you can’ make anything work.
t

Obituary

r
OUT FOR A JOG — Penobscots Tim Gould, Edward Paul, and Mike Paul spend a lunch
hour getting in shape, at Indian Island.

invented music and the arts to appease
the sun and continue life on earth.
Shearer presents the story in a style
considered “purist” Native American in
a contemporary setting. He uses m et
aphor to say more than the words on the
page.
The original idea was conceived 11
years ago for “Children of the Sun,” the
first of the two tales, and research was
done for some years. The love for the art
of storytelling is evident.
Copies can be ordered from Shearer, at
2440 W est Caithness Place, Denver, Colo.
80211, for $9 ($6 for the book and $3 for
postage and packing).

THOMAS CHARLES HOOD
IN DIA N T O W N S H IP — Th om as
Charles Hood, 4 month-old son of Thomas
and Tina (Sockabasin) Hood, died unex
pectedly, Feb. 24, 1982, at a Calais
hospital.
He was born in Bangor, Oct. 29, 1981.
Surviving besides his parents of Peter
Dana Point are one sister, Tomihka Socka
basin of Peter Dana Point; maternal
grandparents, David and Gloria Socka
basin of Peter Dana Point, and Florence
Patone of Brookton; paternal grand
parents, Lawrence and Esther Hood of
Princeton.
A mass of Christian burial was cele
brated at St. Ann’ church, Peter Dana
s
Point.
Burial will be in the Peter Dana Point
tribal cemetery.

The major problem in any work or
relations is the people themselves —
their worries, their preconceived ideas,
their relationships with each other and
their leaders.
You can have all the money in the world,
all the expertise, all the equipment, all the
government support, but without the
people involved in heart, body and soul,
all will be disaster.
It has happened time and time again;
the people are treated as children, as if
it’ known already, what’ best for them. It
s
s
just w on’ work. It doesn’ work that way.
t
t
The attitude is “ I want to help you, so
you listen and I ’ tell you what to do.”
ll
It’ stupid and pretentious. It should be,
s
“ I want to help you, tell me what you
want me to do and w e’ do it together.”
ll
This is what initiative is, an introductory
step to action.
Alice Fowler
Irene Pardilla

Concerned Citizens
Indian Island

CAN’ FIND A JOB?
T

Try the
JOB CORPS
Would you like to be trained as a ...
Bookkeeper
Secretary/Stenographer
Clerk Typist
Nursing Assistant
If you are 16 to 21 and not in school,
the Penobscot Job Corps Center has
training programs which may be of
interest to you.
The Penobscot Job Corps Center
provides all trainees with a place to
live, meals, health care and a cash
monthly stipend while you learn. And
when you finish, we’ also help you
ll
find a job.
SOUND GOOD?
IT IS GOOD.
ASK FOR JOB CORPS
— in the Portland area— 775-7225
— in the Auburn area— 786-4190
— in the Bangor area— 947-0755
— or toll free anyw'here in Maine
at 1-800-432-7307
ASK FOR
JOB CORPS RECRUITMENT

J

Webasaki Alliance April 1982

Cases dog tribal court
INDIAN ISLAND —
The following
matters were heard recently before Penob
scot Nation Tribal Court, Judge Andrew
M. Mead presiding:
Eugene Loring, Jr., Indian Island;
count 1— keeper of vicious dog, count 2 —
keeper of vicious dog, count 3 — dog roam
ing at large; plea of not guilt}', continued to
Feb. 25 for trial. Mar}' LaChance, para
legal, appointed as counsel.
Terence J. Loiar, Indian Island, permit
ting a dog to roam at large, plea of not
guilty, continued to March 8 for trial.
Donna Loring. paralegal, appointed as
counsel.
Carol Drinkwater, Indian Island, per
mitting a dog to roam at large, plea of not
guilt}', continued to Feb. 25 for trial.
Donna Loring, paralegal, appointed as
counsel.
Eva Love, Indian Island, permitting a
dog to roam at large, plea of guilt}’, paid
S15 fine.
Brenda Fields, Indian Island, permitting
a dog to roam at large (second offense),
plea of guilty, paid S30 fine.
Terence J. Loiar, Indian Island, permit
ting a dog to roam at large, plea of nolo
contendere, found guilty, paid $15 fine.
Francine Murphy, Indian Island, per
mitting a dog to roam at large, plea of not
guilty, continued to Feb. 25 for trial.
Mary LaChance, paralegal, appointed as
counsel.
Philip E. Guimond. Indian Island, per
mitting a dog to roam at large, plea of nolo
contendere, found guilty, paid $15 fine.
Christine LaCasse, Indian Island, per
mitting a dog to roam at large, plea of not
guilty, continued to March 22 for trial.
Donna Loring, paralegal, appointed as
counsel.
Gerardo Pardilla, Indian Island, keeper
of unlicensed dog, plea of not guilty, con
tinued to March 22 for trial. Mary La
Chance, paralegal, appointed as counsel.
Gerardo Pardilla, Indian Island, permit
ting a dog to raoam at large, plea of guilty,
found guilty, paid $15 fine.
Theresa Eugenia Thompson, Indian
Island, permitting a dog to roam at large,
plea of nolo contendere, found guilty,
paid 515 fine.
Barry L. Nelson, Indian Island, permit
ting a dog to roam at large, plea of not
guilty, continued to March 22 for trial.

All-Indian Marine
unit formed
ALBUQUERQUE — A newly-enlisted
all-Navajo contingent of U.S. Marines is
hoping to train together and remain to
gether.
The 65 Navajos enlisted in Albuquerque
at the suggestion -of Navajo chairman
Peter McDonald, who himself enlisted in
1944 at the age of 15. McDonald became
one of the famous ‘
code talkers’ who
confused and confounded Japanese cryp
tographers during W W II.
In addition to the all-Navajo platoon,
some 14,226 Indians are presently mem
bers of the United States Armed Forces.
Of these, 599 are Air Force officers, and
6,675 are Air Force enlisted; and 153 Navy
officers, and 22,836 Navy enlisted; 204
Army officers and 2.645 Army enlisted;
and 43 Marine officers, and 1,121 enlisted.

4 new
0

Page 11

Housing units planned

INDIAN ISLAND — It’ time for Phase
s
III here, according to Rick Mitchell, Penob
scot housing authority' director.
Phase m will be the third federallyfunded group of houses for the reservation,
and as proposed consists of 40 units —
30 single-family dwellings, and ten more
units for elderly tribal members. Onlytribal members and their immediate
families are eligible to occupy these units.
Already, Mitchell reports, there are 35-

40 applications on file from persons inter
ested in the new units. Most of the appli
cants are off reservation families; a few
already live in older Indian Island houses.
If built, Phase III will be funded through
the federal Department of Housing and
Urban Development [HUD], and units
will be sold to Indians in a manner similar
to mortgage payments.
New' housing is also planned at Indian
Township, a Passamaquoddy reservation.

Trials
Gary Attean, Indian Island, charged with
possession of m oose killed in closed area,
represented by Martha Harris of Bangor.
Found guilty, sentence: $100 fine, of which
$75 was suspended. Appealed to Penob
scot appellate court.
Eugene Loring, Jr., Indian Island,
represented by Mary LaChance, para
legal. Plea of nolo contendere entered for
dog roaming at large, found guilty, sen
tenced to pay $15 fine. Count 2, keeper of
vicious dog, dism issed upon request of the
Nation. Count 3. keeper of vicious dog,
taking gold from the Black Hills in the
SAN JOSE, Cal. — The Oglala Sioux
dog ordered restrained for one year, must
past century.
Tribe of South Dakota filed a $6 billion
be under the control of a person at all times
The suit was filed in federal district
suit January 26 against the Homestake
when not on a chain. Appealed to Penob
court in San Jose, California.
Mining Company, for trespassing and
scot appellate court.
Terence Loiar. Indian Island, permitting
Corrections and
a dog to roam at large, represented by
Donna Loring, paralegal. Nation moved to
clarifications
dismiss because a witness was unavailable,
A report of court proceedings in last
motion granted, case dismissed.
month's Wabanaki Alliance incorrectlv
Carol Drinkwater, Indian Island, per
named Cheryl Knapp as petitioning to
mitting a dog to roam at large, represented
change her children's surname. The
by Donna Loring. paralegal. Nation re
mother's name is Cheryl Francis. Our
quested case be dismissed, case dis
apology to the Francis family.
missed.
As indicated by letters to the editor,
Francine Murphy. Indian island, permit
this newspaper was off base in reporting
ting a dog to roam at large, represented by
wmm
the Parker, Arizona, Manataba Messenger
Mary LaChance, paralegal. Plea changed
had “ ceased regular publication.” The
to guilty, found guilt}’, paid £15 fine.
M essenger went from weekly to monthly
Christine LaCasse, Indian Island, per
publication, and is a smaller format.
mitting a dog to roam at large, plea of
guilty entered, pre-sentence report or
Esther Ne l s on dies
dered by judge.
Christine LaCasse. Indian Island, per
COSTIGAN —
Esther “ Peaches”
mitting a dog to roam at large, plea of
Nelson, wife of the late Peter “ Dindv”
guilty entered, pre-sentence report or
SARA LOLAR, an eight-year-old Penob
Nelson, died Jan. 28, at a Bangor hospital,
dered by judge.
after a prolonged illness. She was 82.
Christine LaCasse, Indian Island, keeper scot who plays viola, auditioned for the
Portland Symphony Orchestra and is now
Born at Woodstock, N.B., Canada. Nov.
of unlicensed dog. plea of guilty entered,
part of Portland's Children’ Consort; she 4, 1899. she w-as a Maliseet Indian who
s
pre-sentence report ordered by judge.
recently performed with the group, Sara
later joined the Penobscot tribe through
Barbara J. Francis, Indian Island, per
her marriage to Peter Nelson, who had
mitting a dog to roam at large, plea of not has studied viola two years. She is the
daughter of Owen and Joann [Jody] Loiar
been previously married. She was the
guilty, continued to March 22 for trial.
of South Portland, and granddaughter of
sister of the late Louis Bernard of Indian
David J. Sapiel, Indian Island, passing
Island. There is no known immediate
a stopped school bus, plea of not guilty, Vivian F. M assey of Indian Island. She has
family surviving.
continued to March 22 for trial. Donna an older brother, Carl.
Loring, paralegal, appointed as counsel.
Joan Pehrson. Indian Island, permitting
a dog to roam at large, plea of guilty, found
guilty, paid $15 fine.
Housing suits
Penobscot Tribal Reservation Housing
Authority vs. James Sappier. Gerardo
Pardilla, Doreen Bartlett, Roger Ranco and
Joseph Sapiel; all defendants represented
by Winfred Stevens, of Bangor. Plantiff
represented by Paul Zendzian. of Bangor.
Hearing on trustee process on defendant’s
These homes are available to veterans or
case for James Sappier heard; oral argu
non-veterans without preference.
ments heard, taken under advisement by
61 Fourth Avenue, Woodland
$40,900.
Judge Mead; court's order to be filed at a
Rt. 1, Woodland
$20,900.
later date. A.ll cases to be set for hearing as
W est Street, Plantation 21
$24,000,
soon as possible.
Rt. 1, 39 Dublin St., M achias
$36,500.

Sioux file suit over Black Hills gold

*

y •• a r i i

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Owned Homes For Sale
in Washington County

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• •
• •
• •

Page 12

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

Man who drove over Micmoc
says state report "wrong1
C HERR I T [ELD —
The 51-year-old
former deputy sheriff who admitted his car
ran over a Miemac Indian last summer says
a recent state report on the incident is not
accurate.
Murray B. Seavey of Cherryfield tele
phoned Wabanaki Alliance to say that
“ haif of this is erroneous,” in reference to
a follow-up report by the state attorney
general's office, on the Aug. 17, 1981.
hit-and-run death o f Joseph B. Peters, 21,
a blueberry raker from Big Cove reserva
tion in New Brunswick.
The report basically confirms previous
investigation, which revealed that Seavey
lied about his role in Peters' death, claim
ing at first that Peters was already dead,
and he merely “ discovered” the body.
Seavey pleaded no contest in district
court, to leaving the scene of a fatal acci
dent, and was fined £100. by Judge
Millard Emanueison. The low fine for a
death — out of a maximum SI.000 fine
plus one year in prison — triggered an
outcry by citizenry and the press. The
protest prompted District Attorney Mi
chael Povich to reopen the case, and
request the state report.
James Russell Wiggins, editor of The
Ellsworth American, editorialized:
“ It is a humiliation for Mair-e citizens to
have to concede that here in this common
wealth. the law found behavior that
caused the death o f a man so inconsequen
tial that it resulted only in a fine of $100 for
the driver of the car. There is no citizen of
this state, of any race, color, or creed, or of
any station or condition of 'life, so devoid of
human dignity and value that rhose caus
ing his death should be permitted to be
freed by the courts upon the payment of a
5100 fine.”
In the telephone call, Seavey said his
local attorney had advised him “ not to
talk.” But Seavey acknowledged he
“ wasn'i happy with the report” by Deputy
Arty. Gen. James W. Brannigan, Jr.
Seavey refused to specify what he was
unhappy about in the report. “ I know
th ere’ a lot of questions,” Seavey said,
s
adding “ you’ be the first to know” when
ll
he has a statement.
Seavey said he is resigning his job as
chief of the Cherryfield Police Depart
ment; he has already quit the part time
deputy position with the Washington
County Sheriffs Department. “ I’m all
done 'with police work, ’’he said.
Owner of a contracting business with a
“ couple o f trucks,” Seavey said he has not
made up his mind about continuing work as
a security guard with Jasper Wyman
Company, owner of the blueberry fields
where Peters was employed last summer.
Seavey said he has no problems working
with Indians, and in fact prefers Indian
rakers to non-Indian workers. Seavey said
he is on good terms with fellow towns

people, although som e residents petitioned
for his removal as police chief.
Screwing up a jury?
In an interview with this newspaper,
Brannigan was asked if Seavey was on
duty when his vehicle ran over Peters.
“ I reached no conclusion because of the
pending suit,” Brannigan said, explain
ing, “ 1 didn’ want anyone reading it and
t
screwing up a jury selection on this suit.”
Brannigan was referring to a suit byIrene Augustine, executrix for Peters'
estate, seeking $500,000 damages from
Seavey and the Wyman company. August
ine is a social services caseworker for
Central Maine Indian Association in
Orono. Her Bangor lawyer has dropped
Washington County and the Town of
Cherryfield from the civil suit, filed in
Penobscot County superior court.
According to The Ellsworth American,
Seavey was driving a 1979 cruiser at the
time of the fatal accident on Route 193, in
Debiois. Reportedly, there were four
witnesses, but Brannigan declined to name
them. He said the witnesses are permitted
confidentiality.
Irene Augustine said one of the 'Wit
nesses is Peter Joe Augustine, Jr., of Big
Cove, who found Peters’ body after he
heard a “ thump.” W itnesses said they saw
Seavey *s tail lights.
According to
Brannigan’s
report,
“ after striking Peters, Seavey slowed
almost to a stop, did not stop, did not at
tempt to ascertain the extent of Peters'
injuries, to render any aid or call for assist
ance."
Brannigan
labeled
Seavey's
behavior “ somewhat bizarre.”
Peters had been drinking
The report says Seavey “ then went to
one of the Jasper Wyman Co. security
buildings, picked up another Wyman
employee [not identified by Brannigan.
but said to be Lynn Atwater] and returned
to the accident site where they “ dis
covered” Peters' body.”
Brannigan’ investigation “ disclosed
s'
that Peters was killed as a result of being
struck by an automobile driven by Murray
Seavey. At the time he was struck, the
visibility was poor due to fog, and Peters
was either sitting or lying in the roadway.
“ It is apparent that Peters had con
sumed a quantity o f alcoholic beverages
prior to the accident and had a blood alco
hol level of 0.11. There is no evidence
indicating that the Seavey vehicle was
travelling at an excessive speed for the
conditions or that Seavey saw Peters
prior to the fatal impact. Furthermore,
Seavey’ employment may have required
s
him being on the road at the time o f the
accident. Seavey was employed as a parttime deputy sheriff and as a security
officer for the Jasper Wyman Co., as weil
as being Chief of the Cherryfield Volunteer
Police Department. We reached no con

clusion as to which role he may have been
playing.”
Seavey later told investigating state
police he “ ran over Peters' legs only,
and that Peters was already dead.”
Brannigan said his own investigation
showed that Seavey lied.
Povich acted hastily
Reports reveal that Seavey ran over
Peters at 2:10a.m., then. 12 minutes later,
notified state police of a fatal motor
vehicle accident. Nineteen minutes later
state police Trooper Ronald Moody arrived
at the scene, spoke with Seavey, and was
told Seavey and Atwater found the body
in the road.
Seven days later Seavey admitted his
vehicle ran over Peters, but claimed he
only ran over the victim’
s'legs, and that
Peters was already dead.
]p September 1981, Indian blueberryrakers. upset about the death and subse
quent investigation, met with Wyman
company president, Fred Kneeland, and
state police Cpl. Thomas Michaud. Mi
chaud told the “ Native Grievance Com
mittee” that evidence would be presented
to a Washington County grand jury, the
following week.
A few days later. Povich announced he
would not seek grand jury action, and
instead charged Seavey with a Class D
misdemeanor in district court in Machias.
On Sept. 21. Seavey pleaded nolo con
tendere [nocontest], and was fined 5100.
Povich said he was surprised at the
negative public
reaction.
Milbridge
First Selectman John Purington wrote in a
guest editorial in a daily newspaper:
“ I don ’ think the district attorney [Povich]
t
has fulfilled his responsibilities to the law,
or to the people who elected him. I’d like
to know if Judge Emanueison asked any
o f the questions before passing judgment
on the case. As for Joseph Peters, I hope
his spirit finds peace despite how cheaply
his mortality was bought.”
Brannigan defended the court action in
an interview. “ If he [Seavey] had stopped
his car, he wouldn’ even be charged
t
with a crime,” Brannigan said.
But didn’ Seavey lie to state police?
t
“ Making a statement to exculpate yourself
is not a crime,” Brannigan replied.
Brannigan’
s report,
addressed
to
Povich, concluded that the district attor
ney’s office “prosecuted Seavey for the
only crime supported by the evidence
and did nothing to minimize the sentence
to be imposed.
“ While in hindsight it may have been
more prudent to have conducted a more
exhaustive investigation before acquiesc
ing to a disposition by plea in the district
court, in this case such an investigation did
not enhance the severity of the charges
in any way.”

Nicholas Dow

Dow: pushing
development
INDIAN ISLAND — Terms like “Indian
enterprise,’ non-polluting business, and
’
industry," are becoming familiar to Nicho
las Dow, new director of economic de
velopment for the Penobscot Nation.
Dow's plans include setting up an
advisory group. As he puts it, “because of
Reagonomics, some of the departments
have been cut. and I want to help them
where I can." Dow would also like to go for
bigger stakes: “Do we want to look at a
small industrial park here, to attract nonpolluting businesses?”
Dow said he would “like to have a little
more time to develop a long range plan"
for the Island's economic development,
but time is important, to offset President
Reagan's drastic budget cuts. “The big
gest thing is proper planning," he said, “to
get an idea where the tribe wants to go."
One place the tribe may want to go is to
Acadia Peat Company in (the town of)
Penobscot. The tribe now owns 1,233
acres of bog, through land claims pur
chases.
Another development is the availability
of tribally-guaranteed loans to individuals
and small groups, for wood harvesting.
Individuals can borrow up to $1,500, and
corporations or partnerships, up to $5,000,
under terms approved by the tribal
council. The loans are restricted to
covering workm en’ compensation and
s
liability insurance.
Thus far, Mike and Everett Sapiel,
brothers, and their cousin Nick Sapiel,
have applied for a loan to form their own
wood harvesting company. As Dow sees
it, “eventually we hope to train Penobscots to be in every facet’ of the wood
’
business.
Andrew X. Akins, former tribal admin
istrator, has formed Penak, Inc., a wood
harvesting firm that has a stumpage
permit from the tribe.

Bill would erase all pending eastern land claims
WASHINGTON — A proposed Con
legislative liaison, “and that policy re
gressional bill, if passed, would wipe out spects the rights of all people, including
legal and property rights of Indian tribes Indian peoples. This bill proposes an in
seeking recovery of lands in eastern consistent policy approach that would
states.
deny only Indians, because they are
The bill, initiated by Rep. Gary Lee Indians, access to the American system of
(R-N.Y.), purports to “establish a fair and justice. The bill would add years of
consistent National Policy for the resolu
litigation and vastly increase the cost of
tion of claims based upon a purported lack settling these claims according to present
of Congressional approval of ancient law and policy.”
Indian land transfers and to clear the
As originally drafted, the Lee bill would
titles of lands subject to such claims.”
apply to Indian claims in the states of
The bill would limit tribes to asking for
Connecticut, New York and South Caro
money damages.
lina. Other states contacted by Lee
“There is a national Indian policy in declined the opportunity to be named in
place, as ‘
ancient’ and as modern as the the legislation, and Connecticut has re
Constitution," said. Suzan Harjo, NARF quested that it be removed from the

proposal.
In a letter of protest to Senator Alfonse
D ’ m ato, C on n ecticu t Gov. W illiam
A
O’ eill declared his “opposition to the
N
Ancient Indian Land Claims Settlement
Act. This legislation would prohibit the
return of any land to the tribes and would
substitute an exclusive monetary remedy
for the extinguished right of Indians to
recover their lands through court action
or negotiation.
“The bill raises serious Constitutional
concerns which could only lead to further
litigation. The settlement of Indian land
claims varies with each state and legis
lation which fails to recognize individual
issues and problems might not be able to

settle these claims in a fair and equitable
manner,” O’ eill said.
N
In 1977, when a bill similar to the Lee
proposal would have extinguished the
Maine Indian claims. Harvard Professor
Archibald Cox called the approach one
that would “disgrace the Nation. Such
action would carry a simple but shameful
message: when the law gives Indians a
substantial claim to land taken by white
men which the regular courts of justice
may sustain, the white men will change
the rules rather than permit a decision
according to existing law. A broader
m essage would be inferred: Indians
cannot obtain justice even in the white
man’ courts.”
s

Wabanaki Alliance April 19S2

Page 13

Tribal/state panel set up
AUGUSTA — More than one full year
after the signing of the $81 million federal
land claims settlement with Maine Indians,
a Tribal/State Commission has been estab
lished in accordance with provisions of
that settlement.
The commission’ primary job will be
s
to deal with jurisdiction and other issues
relating to fishing on up to 300,000 acres
of land acquired under terms of the settle
ment. As of press time, the commission
had not yet held a first meeting. At that
meeting, eight members — four nonIndians for the state, and two representa
tives each from the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribes — will elect a chairman
with voting powers. That chairman must be
a retired judge, according to Andrew
Janeile, assistant attorney general for the
state. The charter of the commission says
eligible chairmen are retired state judges
from the superior or supreme court level,
and retired federal ju d ges from the district
court, or higher courts. Janeile said he
could not think of any higher court retired
Striking a comfortable pose in the Penobscot N ation’ drop-in center, recently, are from federal judges residing in Maine.
s
left, A1 Dana, a counselor, Brian Attean, and Jim N eptune.
The ex-judge who is selected must
reside in Maine, and will have full voting
rights on the commission. This means, in
effect, there will be five non-Indians and
four Indians constituting the commission.
Janeile said that in addition to fishing

Dropping in

Clinic cites progress

INDIAN TOWNSHIP — Statistics don’
t
lie, the saying goes, and if so, then the
Community Health Services [CHS] at the
Passamaquoddy reservation here look
good.
Figures for the past three years show
that patients treated in 1979 numbered
753, in 1980 totaled 3,233, and last year
reached a high of 3,461.
In other business, CHS announced it
has taken over supervision of alcoholism
counselors Bernard [Fernald] Stevens and
Jim Mitchell. Mitchell can be reached by
calling 796-2301, or 796-2918. Stevens can
be contacted at 796-2301, or 796-2785.
Abortion restricted
The federal Indian Health Service [IHS]
has informed CHS Director Wayne A.
Newell that abortion services are now
limited to cases where the life of the
mother would be endangered if the fetus
were carried to term. This restriction
applies only to IHS funded abortions. The
clinic may refer women for abortions if
the patient has other resources for funding,
or can pay for the abortion herself, IHS
siad.
Seniors discuss aging
Indian Township was the site o f a joint
“ senior companion” meeting, Feb. 24.
The program was coordinated by Fran
Nicholas, director o f Title VI, John Ahlin ,
county director o f the senior companion

program, and Phyllis Lank, Title VI
liaison.
Elders from Eastport, Perry, Pleasant
Point, Woodland, and Indian Township
attended.
Nick Gammertsfelder, health educator
from Pleasant Point, presented films
about aging and the group discussed
their feelings. Participants told o f how they
adapt their activities to their age to get the
most out of each day.
Senior citizens have so many experi
ences to draw from, and so much know
ledge to share with others. Age is an asset,
not a liability. Once the older adult realizes
that he has a valuable place in society,
he can adjust activities and attitudes
accordingly.

He counsels any age. . .

INDIAN ISLAND — Richard Hewes,
new counselor to Penobscot students, says
that interest in attending college appears
to be at an all-time high, among tribal
members.
Although H ew es’office is a tiny space at
the Indian Island elementary school, he
said he counsels students who range in
age from junior high to more than 50 years
old. A native of Bangor, Hewes has spent
16 years as a high school guidance
counselor, most recently in Madison.
But on the reservation, he said, “th ere’
s
more variety," since he deals with
different ages. Actually, Hewes directed
an adult education program at Madison.
Most Penobscot students choose Bangor
Community College or University of
WASHINGTON - The Lower Mus
Maine at Orono, he said, but he does not
kogee Creek Tribe got the word last fall: it push a student toward a particular school:
“does not exist as an Indian tribe,” “it’ a choice a student has to make,” he
s
according to federal governm ent officials. explained.
A notice in the Federal R egister stated
In some ways, working on the reserva
the Lower Muskogee Creeks do not meet tion is just like anywhere else, according
certain criteria for a government-to-gov- to Hewes. “It's the same problems,” he
ernment relationship with the U.S.
said.
A number of letters supported the “not
Hewes said he finds his job, which he
a tribe” findings.
began last fall, to be “very interesting.”

Deep south tribe
deep-sixed

Barnes cares about kids
PLESANT POINT Maxwell J.
Barnes can be tough with kids if they are
misbehaving. But if he is stern, it is
because he cares. In fact, he loves
children.
Barnes is environmental health and
safety director for the Passamaquoddy
Tribe here, and he states flatly that “my
first priority is the kids, school.
“There were three things I was after.
The first, naturally, is kids. The second is
recreation safety. The third is construc
tion safety.”
Barnes’ latest project has been to
successfully organize school pupils as a
team of crossing guards on busy Route
190, a state road that bisects the reser
vation. (He is also working with tribal
Police Chief Bruce Francis to obtain
blinking yellow lights at either end of the
reservation, with a 15 mph school zone,
along Route 190.)
Uniforms for the crossing guards have
been ordered. But already discipline and
training shows among the kids, who in

regulations, the commission will review
any proposal for designation of Maine
land as non-taxable Indian territory,
under terms of the settlement. The tribes
can purchase up to 300,000 acres of such
land, and must do so by a Dec. 31 dead
line, the settlement stipulates.
Any such proposal for designation as
Indian territory would have to be approved
by the legislature.
"I honestly think that the Tribal/State
Commission can play an important role.’
Janeile said.
The Penobscot Nation has appointed
tribai council member Watie Akins to the
commission, along with Reuben E. Phil
lips, already elected by the tribe to the
non-voting position of representative to
the legislature for the Penobscots.
The Passamaquoddy Tribe, after con
siderable delay, has named to the commis
sion: Gifford [Cliv] Dore, director of the
health clinic -at Pleasant Point, and Steve
Meader of Indian Township.
Representatives to the commission con
firmed by the state are, Portland lawyer
F. Paul Frinsko, state Wildlife biologist
Frederick B. Hurley, former state repre
sentative Chuck Dow of Gardiner, and
former, state fish and game commissioner
Maynard F. Marsh, now a member of the
board of environmental protection.

business-like manner halt even the largest
tractor-trailer trucks while perhaps a
small child crosses the road.
It’ “the first time in all reservations, to
s
my knowledge,” that a crossing program
has been established, Barnes told Wab
anaki Alliance.
The kids deserving credit for volunteer
ing as the first crossing guards are
president, Philip Nicholas, eighth grade;
and seventh graders Jimmy Bailey, vice
president, Newell Owens, and Patrick
Francis. The Editor apologizes for any
youngsters left out of this list.
In other activity, Barnes last October
held a fire safety and prevention poster
contest in the school, and offered, for the
third straight year, a ride on the firetruck.
The rides prove popular with kinder
garten through eighth graders.
Barnes has another, unrelated project.
He recently purchased Riverview Board
ing Home in Eastport, an operation that
has 17 mildly retarded clients, and
employs a total of eight people.

A crossing guard at Pleasant Point.

Richard Hewes
Hewes holds a m aster’ degree in counsel
s
ing and guidance from UMO.
Hewes replaced Ken Putnam, who is
selling real estate.

Page 14

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

A turbulent era for Penobscots
economic depression and the Penobscots
By S. Glenn Starbird, Jr.
w ere particularly hard hit. In addition,
The last years of the nineteenth century
disease in various forms took a terrible
marked the low point for the Penobscot
toll. The Tribe’ population had risen from
s
Nation. Most of their lands had been lost
an extreme low of 277 in 1822, to a high of
in 1818. In 1833, another large area
525 in 1861. From there it plummeted to
vanished, when the four townships guar
383 by 1890. Births and adoptions from
anteed under the Treaty of 1818 were
other tribes were not keeping pace with
fraudulently taken by the state, leaving
deaths. The death tolls from 1880 to 1885
only the islands in the river above Old
were: 1880, sixteen; 1881, twenty-five;
Town.
1882, thirty-five; 1883, twelve; (five of
The middle 1800’ had also been a
s
which were infants); 1884, twenty-seven;
period of political instability in which the
and 1885, nineteen. This was an average of
hereditary Chiefs were replaced by an
twenty-two deaths per year for the six
elective system. This system which was
years. In a community of 446 this was
firmly backed by the last hereditary Chief
disastrous. Five percent of the tribe was
Joseph Attean, began in 1867. It should be
dying each year! The low population re
noted that the Old Party continued to
mained constant until W orld War I.
elect Joseph Attean and Saul Neptune,
The ‘
outsiders’
the last hereditary Chief and Sub-Chief,
In the 1870’ the political situation was
s
during the first years of the new system ’
s
still unsettled. The new leaders and
operation.
elective system were not yet firmly
Many other changes w ere also taking
established and the Old Tribal Leaders
place during this time. Joseph Attean,
were either old or dead. With the situation
Governor of the Old Party and Tomer
so unsettled, it was not surprising that
Soekalexis, Governor of the New Party,
dissatisfied mem bers of both parties
both died in 1870. Their deaths swept
united together calling themselves the
away the moderating influence that both
“Third Party” or “Outsiders.” They claim
had exercised on radicals of their respec
ed the. same rights as the other two
tive parties.
parties including the right to hold elec
The year of 1871 was scheduled for the
tions one third of the time. In the election
Old Party’ turn in Tribal Public Office
s
of November 1874 for the Old Party term
and the election was held in the fall of
of 1875, the Old Party failed to make
1870. With Joseph Attean dead, the party
nominations in Caucus resulting in two
had lost a leader on which they greatly
sets of Candidates to be voted for.
depended. Tomer Soekalexis, the New
Sabattis Mitchell and John Neptune were
Party Governor, had died in October 1870
elected Governor and Lieutenant Gover
also leaving the New Party leaderless.
nor in this election. The defeated faction
However, they had more time. When their
left the Old Party and joined the Third
turn came again in 1872 they chose
Party. The Third Party then petitioned
without difficulty Joseph S. Soekalexis,
the Legislature to repeal the 1866 law and
the son of Tomer Soekalexis. Joseph
return to the open election system of the
would be chosen New Party Governor for
early 1860’ This action prompted the Old
s.
three terms. His Lieutenant Governor for
and New Party to unite in opposition to
these three terms was Sockabesin Swas- STEVE STANILAUS
a prominent Penobscot in the 1800’ here dressed in his
s,
this proposal which resutled in its rejec
sian. Swassian, at this time in his mid Sunday best.
tion by the Legislature.
forties, had already served as Represen
Though Sabattis Mitchell had tried
tative several times and established him
sincerely to placate the troubled political
one term as Governor, returned to serve
self as a man worthy of respect and honor leaders were now looking toward Stephen
waters, his main accomplishment in his
Stanislaus of Lincoln to replace Attean. in the Legislature each Old Party term for
in the tribe. He and his son-in-law Joseph
single term as Governor (and as events
Francis were destined to establish one of Stanislaus was nearly a twin to his uncle the remainder of his life.
proved a major one) was uniting the two
During this period new political ques
the strongest political families of the New in both appearance and mental outlook
established parties in opposition to the
and was gaining adherants among At- tions were arising. Income from the
Party in the coming half century.
radical third party. Although their pro
leasing of island shores which went into
s
On the other hand, the Old Party, more tean’ former followers.
posal of an open general election in which
Joseph Nicola, at this time in his early the state treasury, was one. The majority
accustomed to the traditional ways, had
everyone com peted freely was eventually
of the Tribe felt such income should be
trouble in re-establishing the influence thirties, was rapidly developing into a
adopted (but not until 1931), the estab
political leader. He had already repre divided among Tribal mem bers and the
once held by its leaders.
lishment of such an elective system in the
Joseph Attean was dead and his only sented the Tribe at the Legislature Agent backed them in their endeavor to
1870’ would have probably meant the end
s
son Tomer, was still a minor. His brother several times as had his New Party change the law. Another was the disorder
of the Penobscot government.
John, for unknown reasons, never ran for counterpart Sockabesin Swassian. But in land titles which was finally settled by a
In the New Party ranks, Sockabesin
any tribal political office during the entire while Swassian abandoned the L egis State Board of Commissioners in 1883-84.
Swassian was already a force to be
span of his long life. Some Old Party lature to become Governor, Nicola after The question of tribal membership and
reckoned with in Tribal Politics. The Old
adoption of people into the Tribe was
Party ranks still adhered to the families of
another. This matter, once solely in the
the old Chiefs, the Atteans and the
domain of the Old Town School Com
Neptunes. These families already had a
mittee, was to be partially transferred to
strong leader Saul Neptune, Son of John
an elected Tribal Census Committee in the
Neptune, but he was old. Among the
1890’
s.
Atteans, Tomer, the son of Joseph Attean
Medicine show
was developing into the same type of man
care, maternal and child health care, and
WASHINGTON — Unless Congress
Also during this period, methods of
his father had been. It was to him the Old
nursing. The CHR program was funded at earning a living had changed. A portion of
acts to restore programs for Community
Party turned after Sabattis Mitchell
a level of $28.8 million this year.
Health Representatives (CHR) and urban
the tribe had left the island to travel on
refused to serve another term. The Old
A brief explanation of the CHR cut was the “Medicine Show” circuit. Others had
Indian health care, funding for those
Party united in the fall of 1876 and
offered in a Department of Health and established fairly regular summer resi
activities will be eliminated from the
unanimously elected Tomer, the heir of
Human Services (DHHS) statement that dences on the coast and sold materials
Indian Health Service (IHS) budget in
their former chief as Governor. Tragically
was released with the IHS budget. manufactured (particularly baskets) at
fiscal year 1983. The proposed cuts were
however, Tom er the youngest Governor
According to the statement, “... IHS will home during the winter months. With
detailed in President Reagan’ FY 1983
s
ever elected by the Penobscot Nation,
be able to maintain the existing levels of more people having a grade school
budget request, which was announced
died Christmas E ve 1876 without ever
direct health care services and to fund education, better educated tribal mem
here February 8.
assuming the duties of his office.
selected program expansions by refocus
In addition to the elimination of the
bers in both parties w ere becom ing the
ing resources from non-patient care new breed of tribal leaders. These leaders
The Old Party was again without a
CHR and urban Indian health program,
activities. Decreases in non-patient care
leader.
the Administration’ budget reduces by $2
s
w ere more able to deal with the white man
Editor’ Note: S. Glenn Starbird, Jr., is
s
activities include $29 million due to the “on his own turf.” Late in the 1870’ (1878
million the funding for the Indian health
s
tribal genealogist for the Penobscot
elimination of Federal funding of tribal
manpower scholarship program, and pro
to be exact) the order of the Sisters of
Nation.
vides no funding for the construction of staff who currently provide liaison and
Mercy became established on Indian
some health services for the IHS and
Indian hospitals, health clincis, and sani
Island. As teachers in the local school,
Indian people under the Community
tation facilities.
they exercised an influence that was to be
Health Representatives (CHR) program.”
In cutting the CHR program, the
felt for over a century.
Regarding the cutback in funding for
Administration is recommending the
In addition to new ideas and occupa
termination of what is considered to be a urban Indian health services, the Depart
tions, there were other factors that
WASHINGTON — The Justice Depart
ment states that: “A decrease of $8 million
mainstay of many tribal health programs.
pushed the Penobscot people into a
ment obtained a consent decree January
Under the CHR program, tribes provide a reflects the elimination of the Urban
changed way of life m ore quickly than
19 barring the Great W estern Bank and
Health program which now may be funded
number of health-related services, in
they might have otherwise. In the 1870’
s
Trust of Phoenix from refusing to make
as needed by local and state governments
cluding home health care, emergency
the country was plunged into a serious
loans to Indians and reservation residents.
through Federal block grants.”
medical services, health education, dental

Reagan curtails IHS

Court orders bank
to lend to Indians

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

Page 15

New census due

ji- |ntjjan groups seek
Ola census law was
3
----

r

better,chairman
INDIAN ISLAND — The chairman of the
eiected Penobscot Nation tribal census
committee says life — and the committee s
work — would be much easier if the old
“twice-removed” law were reinstated.
Sadie Mitchell, chairman, said under the
old law. a tribal member who married
“ out,” to a non-Indian, was one re
moved. When the children of that family
married non-Indians, that was two re
moved, and their children could not meet
the minimum quarter-blood quantum for
tribal membership.
The twice-removed law was based on the
concept thatthere are no full-blooded
Penobscots alive today, although some
Penobscots protest that they are indeed
full-blooded. But Mitchell said this is
vanity; “ we knew we would never be fullblood, because [even if you married back
into Indian blood] we would always have
that little fraction of white.”
The Nation no longer abides by the
twice-removed law, and the census com
mittee has been assigned the job of tracing
Indian blood through people's ancestry.
The results have been sometimes secret,
sometimes startling, and often contro
versial.
Mitchell said that in recent years, tribal
officials have padded the tribal rolls for
purposes of a larger headcount to get
government grants. The result is that
persons with less than one-quarter blood
are now on the Penobscot tribal census.
The land claims, plus other monetary and
service benefits, make being a bona fide
member of the tribe very attractive.
Tribal genealogist S. Glenn Starbird
has been beseiged warn letters and calls
from would-be Penobscots, as have other
tribal officials.
The committee has approved 59 persons
for tribal membership, but their names
will not be made public until final approval.

urban areas, others in rural regions; many
WASHINGTON — If Pocahontas were
retain strong cultural bonds, while others
alive today she couldn’ qualify for federal
t
are bound by commercial activities.
programs to house or educate Indians.
To win BIA recognition, a groupd must
Her descendants, the Upper Mattaponi
demonstrate that it has maintained a
Indians of the Powhatan Confederation,
continuous presence from “historical
are among 250 Indian groups, nations or
times," that the core of the tribe has lived
confederations that are ineligible for many
in a specific area or in a community
federal services available to Indians living
identified as American Indian and that it
on or near reservations because the
has maintained a “tribal political influence
government doesn't recognize them as
or other authority over its members."
tribes.
The BIA also requires the group to
Seventy-five Indian groups, including
provide a list of descendants from fullthe Mattaponi of St. Stephens Church,
blooded members, prove that its members
Va., the 325 Piscataway Indians of
do not belong to another tribe and show'
Waldorf, Md., and the 75 members of the
that Congress has not abolished it or
United Rappahannock Tribe of Indian
barred it as a recognized tribe, which has
Neck, Va., are seeking that recognition
happened to seven Indian groups.
through the federal acknowledgement
In three years, the acknowledgement
office of the Interior Department’ Bureau
s
office has completed work on four of its 79
of Indian Affairs (BIA).
petitions. Three tribes, including Vir
For many Indian groups "there is
ginia's Jamestown Clallam Indians, have
prestige and honor in having established a
gained recognition, while the other group,
special government-to-government rela
the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe in
tionship with the United States,’ said
John A. (Bud) Shapard, director of the 12- Mississippi, was rejected — told, in effect,
that it was not a tribe.
person acknowledgement office. “There
Suzan Harjo, legislative liaison for the
are very few groups out there who are
Native American Rights Fund, an Indian
seeking recognition for the services or for
interest group, contends that the tribes
money.”
should not be required to prove they have
Nonetheless, recognition means that a
lived continuously in one place because
tribe would share in the $920 million the
the government was responsible for
BIA provides to Indian communities
scattering many of them, including the
through program s such as public housing,
Lower Muskogee Creeks, in the last
law' enforcement, social services, educa
century.
tion and loan assistance. The list of recog
“Bit now that the game has started,"
nized groups includes 281 tribes and 219
Harjo says, “It (the regulation) really
groups of Alaska natives, Eskimos and
shouldn't be changed."
Aleuts.
“The term recognition is a lousy word,"
From 1871, when the last Indian treaty
complained Thomas Oxendine, a BIA
was signed, until three years ago Indian
spokesman and a member of North Caro
groups had to seek federal recognition
lina’ scattered Lumbee tribe. “We (at the
s
through legislation, executive orders or
BIA) don't want to set a standard for who
presidential proclamations. But in 1978 a
is and who is not an Indian” when tribes
federal court ordered the BIA to set up a
claim a membership of a certain size.
system to handle petitions for recognition.
“All we do is say that the Indian tribe or
The acknowledgement office was the
group must set standards to be recog
answer. Its task was to find Indian groups
nized,” Oxendine said, adding that some
that are entitled to a special govern
Indian groups require their members to
ment-to-government relationship with the
be full-blooded, while others accept as
United States because of treaty, law of
members those who have a single greatother agreement, or that deserve such a
great-gTeat-grandparent who was an In
relationship because they were never
Micmacs live in Boston, at least on a sea
dian.
given the opportunity to negotiate an
sonal basis. Many Maine Micmacs pick agreement.
Shapard estimates that 30 percent of
potatoes and rake blueberries. Many
Those distinctions separate the 681,213 the Indian groups will gain recognition by
Canadian Micmacs migrate to Maine for Indians in the recognized tribes living on
the year 2003. The Mattaponi likely will be
these seasonal jobs.
one of them, since they live on a reser
or near reservations from the rest of the
John Morey, of the Micmac Recognition 1,418,195 American Indians, Alaskan
vation run by the state of Virginia.
Committee, said that “ before they wanted natives, Eskimos and Aleuts, many of
But the road to recognition can be a
to talk about recognition and services here w'hom are assimilated into the population
hard one. The Tunica-Biloix tribe, from
[in the U.S.], they wanted to be sure they at large and thus are not eligible for BIA
Louisiana, first sought recognition in 1826.
w ouldn’ lose their citizenship in Canada.”
t
Its remaining 200 members finally won it
programs.
Whether Micmacs can have it both ways
in July, making them the 500th, and
A ck n ow led gem en t office s o c io lo g is t
is not yet clear. A source told Wabanaki Lynn Lambert said that groups seeking
newest, federally recognized tribe.
Alliance the Micmacs have ‘‘no definitive
(Reprinted from The Washington Post)
recognition are diverse: som e live in
aboriginal territory in the U.S.,” and the
land claims settlement act precludes any
new claims in Maine. Federal recognition,
the source said, would mean appropriation
of more federal dollars for Maine Indians,
and that is considered unlikely.
Harold Prinz, anthropologist working
with the Micmacs. told the meeting
“ we should plan for the Micmacs a course
for the future so they are not the victims
of bureaucratic notions. ’’
Bunny McBride, who is assisting Prinz,
said that “ to find the social, economic and
historical context in which the recognition
effort is taking place is . . . to basically
gain a sense of who is the Micmac popula
tion.”
Meeting-goers agreed that coordination
between Maine and Boston Micmacs is
necessary to any recognition work.
Meanwhile, the recognition committee
has planned rotating monthly meetings,
in Caribou, Houlton, Presque Isle, Fort
Kent and other places. Meetings usually
Jim Sappier addresses Micmac meeting.
include a potiuck supper.

Mitchell said a completed census is
due this month. At press time, a tribal
general meeting was scheduled, with
proposed census laws on the agenda.
Mitchell and other committee members
say the tribal council has been reluctant to
meet with the committee, apparently fearin2 repercussions about who should be
added or removed from the census. The
committee has repeatedly tried to meet
with the council, sources said.
“ All they’ got to do is just go by the
ve
genealogy,” Mitchell said.
“ We are mandated by law to put the
blod quantum on the new census, which is
now being done,’ she said. What this
means is that a person who is less than one
quarter blood, but listed on the census,
will be identified as less than one quarter
blood Indian.
Complications may crop up because the
federal government uses the quarter blood
standard.
“ We're not out to hurt any particular
family. OUr own families are being hurt.'
Mitchell said.
So far. two members of the census
committee have resigned, and in a recent
election, nobody was willing to risk being a
candidate for the controversial panel.
Those who resigned are Carolyn Massey
and Doreen Bartlett.
Those remaining are Mitchell, Lottie
Stevens, Eunice Crowley, S. C. Francis,
Ruth Davis, Violet Francis, Rose Francis,
Jean Chavaree, Rose Clark and Clara
Jennings. Mitchell isn't new to the job;
for 14 years she was chairman of the old
census committee.
Apparently, the last full-blooded Penob
scot was John [Basehom] Sousep, so
named because he played in an Indian
band. He died in the 1950's. And there is
som e doubt about whether he was 100
percent Indian-blooded.

AAicmacs co
to gain federal status
INDIAN ISLAND — Micmac people from
across Maine, and interested others,
gathered here recently to discuss the idea
of becoming federally recognized as a
tribe, and thus eligible for a range of
federal benefits.
The Micmacs, unlike their neighbors,
the Maliseets, were not included in the
Penobscot-Passamaquoddy land claims,
that brought these tribes federal recogni
tion and millions of dollars in benefits.
Whether this could be done is by no
means a sure thing, but a Micmac Recogni
tion Committee was organized in Aroos
took County, several months ago, and
outside advice and support has been
sought. A community organizing group,
the Institute for Cultural Affairs, in Starks,
has been assisting the committee through
Tim Crane. Crane’s contract will end soon.
Micmacs from
Aroostook County,
Central Maine Indian Association of
Orono. and Boston Indian Council attend
ed. Tom Batiste, a federal Administration
for Native Americans official who helped
organize the Association of Aroostook
Indians, spoke to the group, as did James
Sappier, an early Penobscot community
organizer. Sappier insisted his comments
be off the record.
Batiste said the big question is “ where
do w? go from here.” He said most M ic
e
macs want to keep ties with their Canadian
ancestry. Many U.S. Micmacs were bom
in Canada, and Batiste said he eventually
plans to retire in Canada.
Estimates are that som e 500-1,000
Micmacs live in Maine, while 3.000

saysrecognition astr

Page 16

Wabanaki Alliance April 1982

Flashback

news notes
Wilderness how-to
talk is free

G-L Mission eyes
Mud Lake camp

ORONO — Tom Brown, Jr., an authorityon wilderness survival who spent ten
years learning Indian lore from an Apache,
will lecture March 31. from 7-9 p.m., in
the Damn Yankee lounge, Memorial
Union, University o f Maine at Orono.
Brown’ talk, and a reception to follow,
s
are sponsored by Native Americans at
Maine, and the UMO Guest Lecture Series.
The event is free and the public is invited.
Brown is the author of T h e Search,’ and
T h e Tracker.’ H e is a contributor to
Mother Earth News, and operates wilder
ness survival training programs in Wash
ington state, and New Jersey. Barry
Nelson, a Penobscot at UMO, has attended
Brown’s courses.
Tickets for a raffle to benefit the student
Indian club are for sale from Native
Americans at Maine members. First
prize is $100: second prize, a packbasket.
Tickets are SI each, and a drawing will
take place at the lecture.

Cancer society
visits clinic for TV
PENOBSCOT WOMAN — This watercolor was painted in 1875, by Mary Anne Hardy,
depicting-the style of dress, circa 1825.

INDIAN ISLAND - A television film
crew visited the Penobscot Health &
Human Services Department, to get •
footage for a public service TV spot, or
“commercial,” for the American Cancer
Society.
The brief segm ent of the spot will
reportedly feature health center staff
members Patricia Knox, Evelyn Akins
profitability of the water works make it a and Rhonda McManus.
bad investment. If the sale goes through,
the tribe will control the supply of water
for the entire City o f Eastport.
Under federal guidelines, the water
company must have a filtration system
installed and operating by Jan. 1, 1985,
according to a story in The Quoddy Tides.
WASHINGTON — The 1980 census
After considering purchase for three
years, the City o f Eastport decided it was a figures released by the U.S. Bureau of
Census showed a 71% increase in the
bad bet, financially.
Nicholas is optimistic, and hopes that Indian population in the past decade —
owning the water company will provide from 827,268 to 1,418,195.
Most of the increase, however, was
several jobs for tribal members.
attributed by the bureau to “improved
census taking and the greater likelihood in
1980 that people would identify them
Beach, Florida, were granted a divorce selves in this category.” California,
201,311 passed Oklahoma, 169.464 as the
recently, in Third District Court. Bangor.
state with the largest Indian population.
Rounding out the top five are Arizona,
152,857; New Mexico, 104,777 and North
Carolina, 64,635.

IPSWICH, Mass. — The Quebec-Labrador Mission, sponsor of a summer camp
for Indian children in northern Aroostook
County, now has the opportunity to
purchase the property.
Ellen Mustin, camp director and a
Massachusetts school teacher in the
off-season, said the Mud Lake camp, near
Sinclair, is available at a very reasonable
price, in the area of $20,000.
The current owners, a local Kiwanis
Club, are willing, if not anxious, to sell the
property. Mustin said she hopes Indian
groups, such as the Maine reservation
governments, Houlton Band of Maliseets,
or Association of Aroostook Indians,
would be willing to contribute toward the
purchase price.
The camp has served Indian children
from Maine and Canda for a number of
years. The Q-L Mission, under the leader
ship of the Rev. Robert Bryan, has a
reputation for assisting isolated people
and communities in a variety of ways.
Bryan is a former partner in the “Bert &
I” Maine humor team, with the late
Marshall D odge of Portland.

Tribe buys water works
PLEASANT POINT — The Passamaquoddy Tribe here has voted 65-21, to
purchase the Eastport Water Company
from its parent firm in Philadelphia.
The turnaround vote follows an earlier
rejection of the purchase by tribal mem
bers. despite strenuous lobbying efforts
by tribal Gov. J. Hartley Nicholas. The
Governor believes that the tribe has
nothing to lose, since purchase would be
paid for by federal funds, possibly a com
bination grant and loan.
Others claim that needed repairs and
long range maintenance, plus the dubious

And now, 1.4

million Indians

Neptunes divorced
BANGOR — Timothy Neptune of Indian
Island, and Marian Neptune o f Daytona

Poetry
Untitled
A then to now
beauty to briks
strong gone astray;
togetherness,
to cliques.
I've been serene to insane
angry to accepting,
from violent to tame.
You slander, you shame
you’ hurt yourself;
ll
try to do me harm!
I’ still a human who’ warm.
m
s
No, you can’ hurt me no longer.
t
I’ only grow stronger,
ll
as then to now.
Ne-qu-tar-tar-wet, 1982

Colvilie tribes host
W ebs of Mind
Ah yes, writing and unravelling
the w ebs we cross and carry
and make each day.
Let me drop a line
and move to another level
Or cast one up or out
Many lines to and fro
Yes, I imagine it is beautiful in all.
The magical, mystical insight to life.
To life’ essence is growth
s
But help me please is what I want
to say.
My web is drooping in places
Tom orrows sun will take up the
slack, and I’ go on with what
ll
I’ done.
ve
June 5th
Red Hawk

CLINIC ASSISTANT — Susan Newell,
Passamaquoddy, was recently hired by the
Pleasant Point health center. She formerly
worked at the reservation junior high school
as a counselor aide, and previously under
went two years of training as a nurses aide/
child care, in Pennsylvania.

Tribal member debuts

b-ball tourney
NESPELEM, Wash. - The Colville
Confederated Tribes of eastern Washing
ton will host the 1982 National Indian
Athletic Association Basketball Tourna
ment April 20-24, in Spokane.
Thirty-two men’ teams and 24 women’
s
s
teams from throughout the U.S. and
Canada are expected to participate in
playoff gam es scheduled at Whitworth
College. Championship gam es will be held
in Spokane’ coliseum, where four to five
s
thousand fans watch the tournament’
s
finals.

INDIAN ISLAND — Philip and Lori
Loring Guimond are the proud parents of
a new Penobscot tribal member, Rachael
Marie Guimond, who was bom in Bangor,
March 4, at 10:36 a.m. She weighed
eight pounds, two-and-one-half ounces
at birth, and is a smiling happy baby.

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